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The Song Dynasty was very well known for their successful trade. "Trade [was stimulated by payments the Song made to neighboring areas]. The Song set up supervised markets along the border to encourage [trade]. Chinese goods … included tea, silk, copper coins (widely used as a currency outside of China), paper and printed books, porcelain, lacquerware, jewelry, rice and other grains, ginger and other spices. [In return they received] some of the silver that had originated with the Song and ... horses that [the] Song desperately needed for its armies, but also other animals such as camel and sheep, as well as goods that had traveled across the Silk Road, including fine Indian and Persian cotton cloth, precious gems, incense, and perfumes." (1)
The Song used trade as an opportunity to bribe their enemies, rather than fight. The slideshow is showing many items that the Song would have traded as well as works of art and pictures or China. |
The Song Dynasty was also known for its poetry. Many times the poetry stressed political angst, but frequently the poem would describe nature and the seasons. Both the poetry and paintings were commonly painted on a scroll with ink and sometimes color. The picture shown on the right, is a poem from the Southern Song Dynasty, titled: "Quatrain on Spring's Radiance". This poem (actually part of a fan) was written by Yang Meizi, an empress to Ninzong. The poem translates to:
My makeup worn and faded, only the scent lingers;
Still I shall enjoy spring's beauty before my eyes.
Once you said to me, "How a year blooms quickly
and as quickly dies!
May we now forsake worldly splendors for the land of wine?" (3)
My makeup worn and faded, only the scent lingers;
Still I shall enjoy spring's beauty before my eyes.
Once you said to me, "How a year blooms quickly
and as quickly dies!
May we now forsake worldly splendors for the land of wine?" (3)
The second picture on the right is a poem titled, "Poem of Farewell to Liu Man", which was written by Yelü Chucai in the 12th century. "Yelü Chucai was a descendant of a ruling family from the Khitan Liao Dynasty (907-1125), and he was a prominent statesman under the Mongol khans. His poem is a plea for humanitarian rule[, and it] ends with the admonition:
Despotic officials and shyster under officials, may they feel ashamed!" (4)
Despotic officials and shyster under officials, may they feel ashamed!" (4)
Listen to the classical Song Dynasty song, "Jade Plum Blossoms":