Hi, on this question for HW, since i am taking a course in CHinese History..

Can you guys compare and contrast the difference between the Song and Ming dynasty.... preferably in terms of economics and culture?

I'm not particularly knowledgeable in Song and Ming dynasty, but here are some points:

Economic Difference:

- The Song dynasty generally has a more 'advanced' economy based on a strong commerce and trade with external parts of the world. The Song was the first nation in the world to introduce paper currency. Tax was exerted not just from farms, but also from commerce. Thus, Song was particularly very rich. Not to mention, Song has a strong scientific and technology development.

- The Ming dynasty tends to be more closed-up (apart from Zhenghe's maritime expansion). Its economy was generally focused on agrarian (agriculture) whereby trade and commerce was suppressed. Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder Emperor of Ming dynasty, had a phobia/detest against merchants. This has affected the way he perceived commerce and trade. Although external trade was still effective, by the end of Ming dynasty, China essentially closed up its door to outside world.

Cultural Difference:

- The Song dynasty had a strong cultural development because of its great emphasis on literati rather than military. Alot of valuable literature in many areas of chinese culture were produced during Song period. Various movements include: the development of Neo-Confucianism (in particular Zhu Xi and various philosopher) , the high development of chinese arts and painting, the development of "Ci" (lyric) in poetry literature, the first Architecture literature in chinese history (Yingzhao Fashi), the compilation of 7 classics of military strategy, chinese military classics such as Wujing Zongyao etc.

- The Ming dynasty's main development in culture include: further development of Neo-Confucianism (in particular Wang Yangmin), the development of novel as a literary form (in particular, famous novels such as Romance of 3 kingdoms, Journal to the West, Water Margin etc.), the development of White/Blue Ceramics

Song Have to share Mandate of Heaven with Liao ,Western Xia ,Jin while Ming was sole Mandate of Heaven of China until 1616 when Nurhachi founded Later Jin .Ming also give Macau to Portugese ,a non Asian people .

This is a misconception that I've already addressed here:
http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php...p;#entry4930039

The Song commerce is actually a lot less developed than those of the later Ming. External trade is only a minor part of the economy. Most of Chinese trade were conducted within China itself. By late Ming, the empire has became far more integrated, creating several major inner economic zones. Numerous shops were set up along the riversides. Many Chinese historians call this the "infancy of capitalism".

Add to that Ming China's entry into the global Columbian Exchange with Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and American continental colonial trade by the mid 16th century.

In the Song, the distance between market towns was shrinking and uninhabited areas of China's southern interior were being heavily settled like never before, increasing the amount of southern agricultural rice settelements that fed the south and the north. Song era administrative 'circuits' in what is now Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, southern Anhui boomed and expanded. Maritime commerce and shipbuilding was apparent in the Northern Song, but it was the Southern Song era when the shipbuilding industry took off along with maritime commerce. Emphasis on maritime commerce and shipbuilding was perpetuated into the Yuan Dynasty. The trend of development of growth in the southeast macroregion of China was strong in the Song (lol! I rhymed), but far more profound in the Ming Dynasty, as it grew immensely populous and prosperous, Northern China could hardly keep up with cities such as Hangzhou, and especially Suzhou.

But this is all concerned with commercial and demographic change, there were other profound changes in Chinese society and culture from the 10th to 17th centuries. Consider the transformation of the gentry class and its relationship with the merchant class.

Eric (En Rui)

That view is a trace of Marxist school of thought in history. In the book "Histoire De Chine: Le Temp Moderne" published by Moscow Progress Publisher in 1983, several issues have been addressed such as Ming dynasty laid the first ground on the development of Capitalism in China, Qing dynasty was the era of class conflict. Such interpretations are a bit excessive.

Thanks for the insight and clarification, Warhead. I've always thought Song economy was very well-developed and Ming economy was less developed...

Yeah, I did read that capitalism started to rise in Ming dynasty in PRC text. Of course, that's marxist interpretation of chinese history.

I was wondering.. in that section, it says that Song had a lower economy than Tang.. In class, the prof said that Song was wealthier than Tang.