International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)

No.3, 2020

 

An overview of the infrastructure construction and economic development in Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty

(Abstract)

 

XU, Jijun

 

The Southern Song Dynasty was a link between past and future in the history of Shaoxing’s development. In this period, the emperor once lived here for as long as 20 months. The ruler also changed its name from Yuezhou Prefecture to Shaoxingfu Prefecture, and since then Shaoxing became the name of the city. It is also the place where some emperors’ tombs located and Emperor Gaozong, five other emperors and many empresses were buried here. It was known as “the Tombs of Six Emperors of the Southern Song”, and enabled Shaoxing to establish a very special and close political relationship with the central government. The city had been seen as provisional capital by the rulers of the dynasty. As the political and cultural center of East Zhejiang, its status was evidently higher than that of other prefectures. In this context, the arrangements  of blocks, streets and canals had been accomplished roughly,  which had promoted rapid economic growth and cultural development, and had profound influence on the future development of Shaoxing.