Study On The Xiang Family Of Henei In Song Dynasty

The Xiang family of Henei was a prominent clan in Song Dynasty. Xiang Min-zhong,who was the soul of the family, became an official through the civil service examinationand underwent smooth in his official career afterwards. He was prime minister twice,leading his family to a splendid peak. After that, there appeared many talents in theXiang family generation after generation. They were filial sons at home or capableofficials at posts. The family maintained its political status and social prestige by theaction.Being famous, Xiang family focused on distinguished families in marrigeengagement, such as imperial families, bureaucratal families,the officials and Chinshi(进士). Xiang Jing's daughter marriged Song Shen-zong, which made Xiang family anempress one and provided many opportunities for members of Xiang family to getofficial positions. As a family with a background of a prime minister and a queen, theXiang family of Henei was honorous and glorious.Jingkang calamity made Xiang family separated and moved to the south .Althoughthis family still possessed governmental posts in every generation, the famous persongradually diminished. Xiang family declined politically and economically day by day incompared with before and was not a prominent family any more.Xiang family's fallingnot only was associated with Song Dynasty's political policy and economic environment,but a result of the family itself.The Xiang family of Henei existed for over 200 years, lasting from Northern SongDynasty to Southern Song Dynasty. It was an outstanding representative for all theprominent families at that time.