Reasons for Economic Development in Song Dynasty

The founding emperor of Song Dynasty released soldiers with a glass of wine and paid attention to social and economic development. Song Dynasty was the only dynasty in history that did not restrain merchants, and attached great importance to the development of the south. It is the greatest period of development in history, and it is also the key period for the economic center of gravity to shift from north to south. The emperors and rulers of the Song Dynasty attached great importance to economic development and scientific and technological development, which was also the main reason for the economic development of the Song Dynasty.

From the perspective of social factors, Song and Liao achieved a brief peace at that time. Social stability creates external conditions for economic development; At the same time, a large number of immigrants from the north, such as Yongjia Rebellion in the late Western Jin Dynasty and Jingkang Rebellion in the late Northern Song Dynasty, led to a large number of people moving south, brought advanced production methods, promoted the development of science and technology in the south and improved labor productivity.

In terms of natural factors, the opening of the Grand Canal in Sui Dynasty enabled the materials from the south to be transported to the north smoothly. Both the Northern Song Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty relied on the grain supply in the south, and the policy was also supported. The relatively loose tax policy in the south has further stimulated the development of agriculture in South China. In a word, the society in Song Dynasty was relatively stable and open, and the advantages of population and technology created the dual prosperity of farming economy and commodity economy.