Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 7, 2022

 

The Situation and System of Transport in the Song Dynasty

(Abstract)

 

Cao Jiaqi

 

Overall, the center of Song transport shifted first eastward and then southward, forming a transport network centered on the capital city and reaching to the strategic border areas. This, along with a preference for maritime transport in dealing with overseas countries, was the result of the joint action of the international political situation and the internal factors of the Song dynasty. Song financial needs, under pressure from the military recruitment system and military garrisons, led to increased merchant levies, thus promoting the development of internal and external commercial transport. This corresponded to the international situation in Europe and Asia, especially the Crusades, and led to the unprecedented development of maritime transport and trade. At the same time, the complex international and domestic situation led to a demand for and increase in the communication of information unprecedented in Chinese history. In order to control this massive information flow, a hitherto unseen variety of information channels and new information transmission systems emerged in the Song dynasty. The most striking were the new arrangements for the postal system, the militarization of messengers, and the permission for officials to use postal messengers to transmit private letters. These internal and external linkages reveal not only the deep-seated motives behind the overall situation and institutional characteristics of Song transport, but also the historical reality of its development. The conservative nature of the system and the regional differences in Song transport management can also be seen as the outcome of the interaction of internal and external factors.