Reacting to Epidemics:The Innovative Imperial Public Health System during the Late Northern Song Dynasty

Song China was a period in which China experienced a great increase in its population.Concurrently,the Song dynasty also experienced a rise in the frequency of epidemics and two major wars with the Western Xia and Liao dynasties during the 1000s and 1040s.The consequences of these changes were exacerbated by the increased geographical mobility of certain social groups such as traders and examinees attending civil service examinations.Thus,casualties of wars,epidemics,or disease,especially of people whose families were far away and could not care for them were left without care and“their corpses often lay bare along the roads.”This new social environment created a need for general relief.The Northern Song government(960-1127 CE),especially during the reign of Emperor Huizong,established an innovative public health system to address this issue.The public health system included poorhouses,public hospitals,and pauper’s cemeteries.The first were more of charity organizations,whereas the latter two promoted public health by providing medical services for the poor and burial for those that nobody cared for.In terms of rationale behind these institutions,on the one hand,they constituted an attempt to get the poor and homeless off the streets while providing them relief or burial.On the other hand,it seems that Huizong’s deep concern with medicine propelled him to design and implement a comprehensive public health system oriented to prevent contagion and outbreak of epidemics.This article depicts the background,the organization,and the functions of the system.The article also discusses the conditions and reasons that gave rise to such a unique undertaking by the Northern Song government.

“Commercial Revolution” in the Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty has been known in history for its great commercial success due to a series of events in the dynasty.In order to explain the reasons for economic success,this paper attempts to use factors such as political stability,discovery of new rice species in the South,the introduction of paper money by merchants from Sichuan in the South of China,and the increase in iron production especially in the North.Specialisation of products is also discussed separately but into details.A further mention of characteristics of the internal and international trade is also highlighted in this paper.An introduction of how the Song dynasty was founded and its distinct political,social and cultural characteristics,are delved into.Also the separation of northern Song Dynasty from the southern Song dynasty will be discussed.The paper concludes with combined interpretations from the famous“Qing Ming Shag He Tu”painting.This painting gives a somewhat illustrated evidence of the vibrancy of the Song Dynasty’s commercialisation recorded in history.

Analysis of Style of Rockery Building and Stone Stacking Technique in the Royal Garden of the Song Dynasty: A Case Study of Genyue Royal Garden

Rockery building and stone stacking is a technique commonly used in building of classical gardens.Its emergence allows the fairy thought of"one pond and three mountains"to be reflected in different classical gardens.In the Northern Song Dynasty,the style of rockery building and stone stacking in the royal garden was an artistic climax in the history of the garden,and the technique of rockery building and stone stacking in Genyue Royal Garden was considered as the beginning of specialization.Through sorting out the records of the royal gardens in the Song Dynasty,this paper summarized the content of studying the royal gardens of the Song Dynasty,and systematically sorted out the development history of the techniques and styles of the royal gardens of the Song Dynasty and applied them into construction of some gardens.

Artistic Features of Gardens in Southern Song Dynasty

Based on the discussion of gardens in song dynasty,the artistic characteristics of gardens in southern song dynasty are analyzed from the four perspectives of poetry and painting style,stone piling and water designing,architectural form and plant cultivation.The gardens of southern song dynasty embody the regional and cultural characteristics of Jiangnan.The aesthetic appreciation of gardens infl uenced by the style of poetry and painting highlights the artistic characteristics of false or true complement,soft and elegant,and tends to be popularized.Mountain stones are stacked into peaks and waters are designed according to local conditions.The architectural forms are strewn at random,exquisite and elegant.Landscape plants present varying sceneries with changing view-points,and naming echo with scenes to enhance the artistic value of landscape.It is hoped that the status of garden art of southern song dynasty in the history of Chinese classical gardens can be evaluated more scientifi cally and objectively through the research,and some reliable theoretical basis can be provided for modern garden design.

Writing and Criticism on the Zen Buddhism in Zen Notes During the Song Dynasty

Zennotes in the Song Dynasty are based on the use of scattered essays to record trivial fragments of Zen Buddhistmonks’ daily life, including Hui Hong’s Lin Jian Lu, Da Hui Pu Jue Chan Shi Zong Men Wu Ku edited by DaoQian, Xiao Ying’s Luo Hu Ye Lu and Yun Wo Ji Tan, Dao Rong’s Cong Lin Sheng Shi, and Huan Wu’s Ku YaMan Lu. Through Zennotes, it is possible to learn more about the life of Zen Buddhist masters in the SongDynasty and the actual development of Zen Buddhism, which were seldom investigated in past studies. Firstly,this study explains the cultural environment generated by Zennotes and the creative development of Zennotes inthe Song Dynasty, and then discusses the main content of Zennotes. Zennotes highlight the characters through thedescription of specific events and make the images and characters of Zen Buddhist monks become vivid on paper.They are the most direct historical material for mastering Zen Buddhist monks in the Song Dynasty. Secondly,Zennotes in the Song Dynasty record anecdotes about Zen Buddhist monks and the literati talking about Zen atthat time, demonstrating the lively and witty interactions between the two. Lastly, the authors of Zennotes oftenrevealed their personal concerns about the growth and decline of temples in the narrative. Based on the above,Zennotes have the value of historical recordings of trivia, and they are first-hand historical materials forconstructing the history of Zen in the Song Dynasty.

Zhang Sixun and the Prosperous Astronomy in the Song Dynasty

Chinese astronomy reached its pinnacle in the Song Dynasty(960-1279)as culture continued to prosper to a new height.The invention of the“Taiping Armillary Sphere”by Zhang Sixun,who was from Bazhong in the Shu area(today’s Sichuan province),marked a milestone in the astronomical development in China.This article delves into the driving forces behind Zhang Sixun’s outstanding contributions to astronomy from the perspectives of the important role of astronomy in the politics of the Song Dynasty,the great attention the imperial court paid to astronomy,and the influence of the Shu culture,which centers on the belief“Tian Shu Zai Shu”(the rule of the universe is best observed in Shu).

The“Emperor’s Edict”and the Emperor’s power in the Southern Song Dynasty

“Emperor’s Edict”refers to the writing of emperor himself.In the context of serving as official document,it refers to the special writ issued by emperor for sake of administering national affairs.In the official document system of Song Dynasty,“Emperor’s Edict”had always been an attention of the scholars and officials at that time due to its unusual functions in terms of drafting,promulgation and power.The Southern Song Dynasty was generally conceived by academic circles as a period when the“Administration by Emperor’s Edict”was gradually phased out.We did observe,however,with“Emperor’s Edict”placed in historical panorama of the early years of Southern Song Dynasty,an ever-strengthened power and prowess of“Emperor’s Edict”as backlit by several historical incidents such as Emperor Gaozong’s controlling and manipulating by“Emperor’s Edict”of the national armies.It reflects the political truth of strengthened imperial power in the Southern Song Dynasty.Hence,we can have access to another facet of the politics of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Different Views on the Historical Status of Song Dynasty

The purpose of this research is to identify the historical status of Song Dynasty of China.The historical status of Song Dynasty has been a controversial topic for a long time.Song Dynasty has been remembered in different ways in China and in the West at different times.This study will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Song Dynasty and evaluate Song Dynasty real istically and fairly.

The Evolution Characteristics of Spatial Layout of Ancient Chinese Capitals: A Case Study of Sui,Tang and Northern Song Dynasties With Important Changes in the Historical Development of Feudal Society

Imperial city and outer city are the most important differentiation of the spatial structure of ancient Chinese capitals.The relationship between city and Guo changed from the original spatial structure mode of "respecting the west" and "sitting in the west and facing the east" to the spatial structure mode of "sitting in the north and facing the south" and the three outer cities in the east,south and west surrounding the imperial city after the Wei,Jin,Southern and Northern Dynasties,and gradually changed from the original "multi palace" system to the "single palace" system.Finally,a "heavy city" capital spatial structure with the outer city around the imperial city and the imperial city around the palace city,and the central axis of the chessboard format was formed.During the Tang and Song Dynasties,it was a period of great change in the history of feudal society in China.Through the investigation of the evolution characteristics of the spatial form of capital cities in the Tang and Song Dynasties,the track of the transformation of social ideology,political system,economic structure and many other fields in the Tang and Song Dynasties was made clear.

《碛砂藏》随函音义甾思韵考

《碛砂藏》的随函音义作于宋初,其中止摄开口精、庄组字改良切下字,比例超过90%(少数特殊情况除外),而且完全不作其他字的切下字,反映甾思韵已经独立。甾思韵的性质大概是舌尖元音,有?、?两个条件变体,分别出现在精、庄组声母之后。甾思韵进一步发展,则为《韵会》的赀字母韵,演变路径与《中原音韵》的支思韵不同。

“森列”与“饾饤”:南宋园林假山营造的两种类型及其结合发展

现有中国园林史研究已经认识到南宋是园林中石假山营造得到重要发展的时期,然而南宋园林假山营造的具体方式及其形态特点尚未得到有效探讨。在深入研读相关文献与图像的基础上,结合历史来源与后世影响,探讨南宋园林假山营造的类型及其发展。首先从“置”与“叠”2种基本方式出发,在历史语境中探讨“森列”与“饾饤”这2类南宋常见的假山营造类型及其来源与影响;进而关注二者在仿“飞来峰”营造中的结合与发展,从而更清晰地认识南宋,乃至其后的石假山营造。这一研究将对其后中国园林假山发展的认识,乃至当代假山特点的理解提供坚实的历史理论基础。

南宋和元代龙泉窑粉青瓷釉色比较研究

为了研究南宋与元代龙泉粉青瓷釉呈色机理,采用colorimeter,XRF,XRD,Raman spectrometer,XPS等对南宋和元代龙泉粉青瓷釉进行对比分析。结果表明,南宋粉青瓷L*值大于元代,而a*、b*值小于元代粉青瓷。南宋粉青瓷的烧成温度低于元代。龙泉粉青瓷乳浊如玉的质感主要是受釉层内小而密集气泡与大量石英晶体对光的影响所致。Fe2O3的化学色主导了龙泉青瓷的呈色,且南宋粉青瓷的Fe2+与Fe3+的比值高于元代粉青瓷,是南宋粉青瓷偏蓝而元代粉青瓷偏绿的主要原因。

当代仿宋体的发展困境与机遇

仿宋字体的设计正面临着创新发展的困境。通过分析新文化运动与五四运动带来的革新理念,揭示出仿宋字体横向排版的缺陷。当下各种媒介尤其是新媒体对屏显文字有了更高需求,而仿宋体受横向排版的影响,开发的难度更大,这也进一步说明了仿宋体面临的窘境。与此同时,借用几个案例提出困境即机遇的思索,并对仿宋体的进一步发展提供解决思路。同时相信只要顺应时代,掌握字体设计的规律,保留仿宋体的特征,仿宋体定能厚积薄发。

“势中见理”--宋代交椅的风雅变迁

目的站在宋代设计思维方式的研究角度,以理势思想中的“势中见理”关系为研究脉络,对宋代交椅形制的变迁进行了深入分析,旨在揭示宋代社会、文化、艺术的发展轨迹,探索传统思想下的宋代美学设计思维。同时为家具史研究、艺术史研究和文化遗产保护提供有益的参考和借鉴。方法采用历史文献研究、文化分析和比较研究的方法,一方面,梳理了宋代交椅的演变过程及发展趋势,以交椅的式样、造型、风格、构件为切入点,对宋代交椅形制进行了详尽研究;另一方面,从坐姿、礼制、架势、工巧的角度分析了交椅在使用、等级、表现、技法上所呈现的变迁之“势”。结论在文人士大夫自主意识较强的时代氛围下,统治阶级的观念、文人阶层的审美、市民群众的实用、梓人群体的技艺,四者结合构成了宋代交椅“经世致用”“托物言志”“道本器末”“尚巧达善”的审美造物思维方式。

“义”在宋代的应用与价值

宋代是义观念实践的一个历史高潮。宋代之义具有崇高神圣的精神地位,受到上至皇帝、下及盗贼的追捧。宋代强调君臣以义立,皇帝以义结天下人心,以义对内理政、对外交好。士大夫之公义指正义、刚正的气概,是高尚情操,其小义主要体现在对社会、朋友的责任担当与无私帮助,个人之间也多称兄道弟以及结拜兄弟。武人之公义通常都是忠于朝廷,慷慨赴义,其私义多表现于结拜兄弟。民间之义除公益之义外,还有更多样的表现形式,如互济互助、扶正驱邪,包括义居、复仇杀人,结义现象更为普遍,既有义兄弟,也有义父子,均受到法律的承认。义观念的强化和实践,体现着宋人的奉献精神、自律精神、契约精神。从开国皇帝赵匡胤传下来的以义治国策略,是宋代政治文明的重要组成部分。