Song Dynasty

(960-1279CE) The Song dynasty, considered the most culturally brilliant era in later imperial Chinese history, was one of the longest, peaceful, and affluent dynasties with advancements in agriculture, technology, and commerce. It saw the innovations of gunpowder and fireworks, the mechanical clock, navigation by compass, paper money, porcelain production, movable type, and superior ship building. China’s economy grew to triple that of Europe with a population of nearly 100 million. Large numbers of foreigners entered China along the Silk Roads bringing with them new ideas, religions, and social practices. In response, massive numbers of government, private and religious building and tombs were created. Cities increased and became more international with less government meddling in trade and economic affairs. Prosperity increased, society became more vibrant, literature, art and education improved with the invention of movable-type and increased woodblock printing, and civil service examinations expansion enhanced officials’ power causing a shift from a military/ upper-class aristocracy to a scholar/ administrative elite. Wood was replaced with more durable and inflammable fired bricks in buildings. The insides of the new edifices of buildings, temples, and even tombs were embellished with inexpensive mold-made decorative brick tiles filled with wet clay, fired, covered with a white slip, painted in polychrome, and placed on walls. Subjects included mythology, auspicious symbols for wealth, health,
happiness, and long life and animals, plants, and trees that were symbolic wishes for other successful endeavors and scenes of everyday life.