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Song 宋 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 420–479 | |||||||||
 Liu Song and neighbors | |||||||||
 Administrative divisions of Liu Song | |||||||||
| Capital | Jiankang | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Emperor | |||||||||
• 420–422 | Emperor Wu | ||||||||
• 424–453 | Emperor Wen | ||||||||
• 453–464 | Emperor Xiaowu | ||||||||
• 465–472 | Emperor Ming | ||||||||
• 473–477 | Emperor Houfei | ||||||||
• 477–479 | Emperor Shun | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 10 July[1] 420 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 31 May[2] 479 | ||||||||
| Currency | Chinese coin, Chinese cash | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | China Myanmar Vietnam | ||||||||
| Part of a series on the |
| History of China |
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Song, known as Liu Song (Chinese: 劉宋), Former Song (前宋) or Song of (the) Southern dynasties (南朝宋) in historiography, was an imperial dynasty of China and the first of the four Southern dynasties during the Northern and Southern dynasties period. It succeeded the Eastern Jin dynasty and preceded the Southern Qi dynasty.[3]
The dynasty was founded by Liu Yu (Emperor Wu; 363–422 CE), whose surname together with "Song" forms the common name for the dynasty, the "Liu Song". This appellation is used to distinguish it from a later dynasty of the same name, the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE, ruled by the House of Zhao). Although the Liu Song has also at times been referred to as the "Southern Song", the name is now mainly used to refer to the Song dynasty after 1127 CE.[4]
The Liu Song was a time when there was much internal turmoil. A number of emperors were incompetent and/or tyrannical, which at least partially led to many military revolts. These rulers include Liu Shao, Emperor Xiaowu, Liu Ziye, Emperor Ming, and Liu Yu. Emperor Ming was especially vicious, murdering many of his brothers, nephews, and other male relatives — many of them children. Such internal instability eventually led to the dynasty's destruction. However, its founder Emperor Wu was considered one of the greatest generals during the Northern and Southern dynasties period, and the reign of its third emperor, Emperor Wen, is known for its political stability and capable administration, not only of its emperor but its strong and honest officials. This is known as the Reign of Yuanjia (425–453) and one of the relative golden ages for the Southern Dynasties.[5]
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 119.
- ^ Book of Southern Qi, vol. 1.
- ^ （梁）裴子野，《宋略‧總論》
- ^ 徐俊. 中国古代王朝和政权名号探源. 湖北武昌: 华中师范大学出版社. 2000年11月: 142–144. ISBN 7-5622-2277-0.
- ^ （梁）裴子野，《宋略‧總論》：「永初末歲，天子負扆矜懷，以燕、代戎幄，岐、梁重梗，將誓六師，屠桑乾而境北狄，三事大夫顧相謂曰：『待夫振旅凱入，乘轅南返，請具銀繩瓊檢，告報東嶽。』既而洮弗不興，即年厭世」