The Study On Several Problems Of Consumption Economy In Song Dynasty

Guided by Marxist theory on the interactive relationship among the four elements of production, distribution, exchange and consumption and focusing on the close relationship of consumption with them, the article explores on the issues rarely researched on in the economic history of the Song Dynasty in order to investigate on the role of consumption condition, consumption standard and consumption itself upon the development of commercial economy as well as social economy in the Song Dynasty. City festival consumption in the Song Dynasty centered around Bianjing and Lin'an and spread to other smaller cities such as Chengdou, Fuzhou and Suzhou. By investigating on the seasonal festivals and their main activities in the Song Dynasty, we can have a glimpse of the then commercial prosperity of the cities and the rich festival atmosphere. Meanwhile the self-providing consumption pattern was out of date and there appeared prosperous festival consumption markets owing to the purchasing craze during the festivals. That consumption was mainly market-oriented. However, since it was too concentrated and weighed much more than any other time, different places showed different characteristics because of their different geography and customs. And different classes exhibited different consumption patterns because of their different political statuses and economic conditions. Spirits distribution was regulated by officials and people were often forced to buy those of low quality. Meat is non-staple food. Based on the relationship between production and consumption, the article explores on the relationship of meat consumption and animal husbandry related with it. We find that meat consumption in the Song Dynasty had three characteristics. Firstly, it had its local features: northerners mainly ate mutton while southerners mainly ate pork and game, which was determined by their respective localities. Secondly, it had its class features: meat consumption in the court from the North Song to the South Song transferred from mutton-centeredness to aquatic product-centeredness combined with pork, poultry and game; mutton was still expensive and there appeared abnormal extravagant phenomena. Thirdly, pork and aquatic products were widely consumed. Pork became popular and fish played a rather important role in people's diet. This was not only due to ecological and environmental changes resulting from the southern capital transfer but due to the then social and economic center transfer. Fruit was produced far and wide in large amount for the sole purpose of market sales in the Song Dynasty. Its production was separated from farming and it was specialized and commercial, which was distinctly shown in the production of oranges in Taihu Valley and that of litchi in Fujian. At the same time there were various advanced ways to preserve fresh and dried fruit. Fruit transportation prospered, which made fruit consumption no longer locally limited. A lot of southern fruit were carried north. Fruit was widely used and it enriched food varieties. The price of fruit in the cities was generally lower than that of meat and fish but higher than that of vegetables. Its consumers were mainly upper-middle city dwellers with stable income. Rare, high-quality expensive fruit was intended for the rich. Ordinary people bought fruit as sacrifices, gifts or refreshments for relatives and friends. And fruit's non-commercial consumption was distinct in the countryside or the producing places. Paper was widely produced in the Song Dynasty. There were much more raw materials and paper products. Its production technology and quality had been greatly improved. Officials used plenty of paper, which partly came from producers in the form of tax and partly from markets. Paper consumption increased because of the wide printing of paper money and paper credit documents. With the development of culture in the Song Dynasty more paper was used in calligraphy and painting. More and more books were printed and paper products came into great use. Since paper was closely related...