The Cambridge History of China

This first of two volumes on the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) and its Five Dynasties and Southern Kingdoms precursors presents the political history of China from the fall of the T'ang Dynasty in 907 to the Mongol conquest of the Southern Sung in 1279. Its twelve chapters survey the personalities and events that marked the rise, consolidation, and demise of the Sung polity during an era of profound social, economic, and intellectual ferment. The authors place particular emphasis on the emergence of a politically conscious literati class during the Sung, characterized by the increasing importance of the examination system early in the dynasty and on the rise of the tao-hsueh (Neo-Confucian) movement toward the end. In addition, they highlight the destabilizing influence of factionalism and ministerial despotism on Sung political culture and the impact of the powerful steppe empires of the Khitan Liao, Tangut Hsi Hsia, Jurchen Chin, and Mongol Y8an on the shape and tempo of Sung dynastic events.

The Sung Dynasty and its precursors, 907-1279 Paul Jakov Smith; 1. The Five Dynasties Naomi Standen; 2. The Southern Kingdoms between the T'ang and the Sung 907-979 Hugh R. Clark; 3. Founding and consolidation of the Sung Dynasty under T'ai-tsu (960-976), T'ai-tsung (976-997), and Chen-tsung (997-1022) Lau Nap-yin and Huang K'uan-chung; 4. The reigns of Jen-tsung (1022-1063) and Ying-tsung (1063-1067) Michael McGrath; 5. Shen-Tsung's reign and the new policies of Wang An-Shih, 1067-1085 Paul Jakov Smith; 6. Che-Tsung's reign (1085-1100) and the Age of Faction Ari Daniel Levine; 7. The reigns of Hui-Tsung (1100-1126) and Ch'in-Tsung (1126-1127) and the fall of the Northern Sung Ari Daniel Levine; 8. The move to the South and the reign of Kao-tsung (1127-1162) Tao Jing-shen; 9. The reign of Hsiao-tsung (1162-1189) Gong Wei Ai; 10. The reigns of Kuang-tsung (1189-1194) and Ning-tsung (1194-1224) Richard L. Davis; 11. The reign of Li-tsung (1225-1264) Richard L. Davis; 12. The reign of Tu-tsung (1264-1274) and his successors to 1279 Richard L. Davis.