(136) BBC 2 China History 6 3 The Golden Age

The Context of the Tenth Century

• China nearly fragmented during this period, facing civil war and turmoil.

• The soldier-poet Wang Renu recorded the despair, stating, "Our cities have been abandoned; our temple courtyards lie in ruin," characterizing the chaos that followed the Tang Dynasty's fall.

• Despite this dark era, Renu expressed hope for rejuvenation, believing that heaven would soon herald a new dynasty.

Historical Cycles in Chinese Civilization

• Unlike the Western view of distinct rises and falls in civilizations, Chinese history reflects cycles of order and disorder.

• In the Middle Ages, following the pattern of rebuilding seen in Europe after the Second World War, the Song Dynasty emerged as a transformative period in Chinese history.

• Kaifeng became the bustling heart of this era, illustrating unmatched creativity and innovation preceding Western Renaissance.

The Rise of the Song Dynasty

• After the fall of the Tang Dynasty in 907, China fragmented into 16 short-lived dynasties plagued by warfare.

• The famous saying from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms illustrates the belief that something long divided can reunite. This soon became true as the Song Dynasty began to consolidate power.

• In 960, the older brother Tai Zu announced the establishment of the Song Dynasty and transformed Kaifeng into an expansive metropolis, an architectural boom following the chaos.

Transforming Kaifeng into a Metropolis

• The Song building manual from the early 12th century laid out guidelines for creating homes and infrastructure, leading to an astounding growth in Kaifeng.

• The city grew exponentially, from a mere square mile to over 16 square miles, becoming the world's largest city until the 19th century.

• Key surviving structures from this time include the Iron Pagoda, symbolizing the architectural achievement of the Song era.

The Legacy of Flooding and Preservation of Memory

• Kaifeng's history is marked by devastating floods from the Yellow River, erasing much of its golden age's physical remnants.

• The existence of layered city walls from various dynasties signifies the city’s historical depth and continuous struggle against natural disasters.

• The city, often dubbed "City of Memory," embodies a cultural memory memorialized through literature and art rather than monumental architecture.

Cultural Flourishing during the Song Dynasty

• The vitality of the Song Dynasty is captured in a nearly 20-foot-long scroll depicting Kaifeng at its peak, showcasing daily life in exhaustive detail, highlighting the city’s commitment to ordinary citizens' well-being.

• A poet from the era described a lively atmosphere, rich with restaurants and public festivities—an era hailed for its harmonious society.

Influence of Song Dining Culture

• The Song Dynasty is credited with establishing a sophisticated restaurant culture, recognizing the importance of food in social ritual.

• Detailed accounts describe a bustling dining scene in Kaifeng, where high standards of service and etiquette fostered a vibrant foodie culture, emphasized in contemporary Chinese cuisine.

Contributions to Literature and Publishing

• The Song Dynasty elevated the importance of written culture, with a printing boom leading to the proliferation of cookbooks, poetry, fiction, and literature.

• While woodblock printing was established during the Tang Dynasty, the Song saw the attempt to develop movable type—a notable invention hindered by the complexity of Chinese characters.

Literacy and Reading Culture in the Song

• There was a notable spread of literacy during the Song, expanding beyond elite classes to ordinary citizens, fostering a reading culture that encouraged wider engagement with literature and knowledge even among those who couldn’t read themselves.