Sung

a dynasty and empire in China (960–1279).

The military commander Chao K’uang-yin founded the Sung dynasty at the end of the period of the Wu Tai (Five Dynasties, 907–960), destroying his enemies and extending his realm over southern and northern China as far as the lands of the Khitan state of Liao and the states of Hsi Hsia and Nan Chao. T’ai Tsung (976–997), Chao K’uang-yin’s successor, carried forward the unification of China, thereby fostering the growth of production forces, such as agriculture, mining and salt extraction, and domestic and foreign trade. Culture also made significant strides—in philosophy, for example, with the emergence of the neo-Confucianism of Chu Hsi. The Sung empire suffered defeats, however, at the hands of its northern nomadic neighbors. By peace treaties with the Khitan in 1004 and 1042 and with the Tangut in 1044, Sung rulers pledged to pay a tribute of silk, silver, and tea.

As exploitation in the countryside grew worse, as taxes increased, and as the burden of usury grew wearisome, the people found themselves much worse off than before, and the class struggle grew sharper. The peasant movement persisted unchecked. Urban revolts broke out for the first time. Opposition sprang up among the ruling class as well. The political strife of the 11th century grew into a reform movement, which achieved partial success in the reforms of Wang-An-shih.

In the 12th century the Juchen (the Chin state) invaded North China. In 1127 they took Pien (now K’aifeng), the capital of the empire, and crossed the Yangtze River. The imperial house moved south, and Linan (now Hangchow) became the capital of the Southern Sung (1127–1279). The emperors and feudal lords were unable to mount a defense against the invaders. In 1141 the Southern Sung government came to terms with the Juchen, concluding a treaty by which it ceded northern China to the Huai River and pledged the payment of an annual tribute. The empire of the Southern Sung fell to the Mongol conquerors and was destroyed.