The Study On Social Activities Of The Scholar-bureaucrats In Northern Song Dynasty

Chinese feudal society has had significant transformation in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). A series of profound changes have taken place on feudal politics and economy then, which provide great possibilities for the prosperous social activities. The political position and the economic situation for the scholar-bureaucrat has been improved, compared with the previous dynasties. As with other groups of people, the scholar-bureaucrats formed a variety of social-activities by all kinds of the social relations and opportunities.As the backbone class of the Northern Song Dynasty, the scholar-bureaucrats played an extremely important role in political, economic, and cultural fields. The dissertation has taken careful observation on the spiritual outlook, thoughts and mind-set for social activity of the Northern Song Dynasty scholar bureaucrats. It has also taken microcosmic research on social activity relation and status among the scholar-bureaucrats, between scholar-bureaucrats and general, imperial clan, queens and princesses, mother and wife relatives of the emperor, eunuch, businessman, rich people, geisha, wizard, monks and Taoists and people of other classes, in order to get a macroscopic understanding of the political, cultural and social conditions, and financial circumstance of the Northern Song Dynasty.Based on the theme mentioned above, the dissertation is included six chapters in total as following, except the "instruction" and "conclusion"Chapter one is about the research on the political environment of Northern Song Dynasty. The political position for the scholar-bureaucrats has been improved at that time.The policy of "advocating culture and restraining military" has been taken in Northern Song Dynasty. Both feudal official and private education is popular then and the academic culture is inclined to the common people. Many common intellectual enter the official career after examination, which expands the scholar-bureaucrats group and helps the formation of political status of scholar-bureaucrats as the main social part. As the only cooperators of the emperor, scholar-bureaucrats have extremely high social and political status then. Respect and favorable treatment of the scholar-bureaucrats from the emperor have given a scare historical opportunity for the existence and development of the scholar-bureaucrats, which have direct and important impact on the building of social activity.Chapter two is about the research on the change of the traditional life style. There is a proverb called "Jushizhongjiaoyou" (the social activities were highly encouraged and addressed by people) in the Northern Song China. The material base for this situation is discussed in this paper.Hereditary aristocracy system is finally destroyed in Northern Song Dynasty. The identity difference between people is reduced gradually. Social activities take place between all the classes. "Value the social activity" atmosphere is formed then with the expanding of the social activity scope. Good holiday and salary system has also provided enough time and economic basis for the social activity.Chapter three is the studies on several main social association forms of the scholar-bureaucrat group in the Northern Song China, which is embodied specifically in the daily visits, giving presents from each other, traveling together, Ya Ji(elegant meeting), drinking, playing chess and so on.Social activities of the scholar-bureaucrats are mainly daily visit. Also the scholar-bureaucrats of Northern Song Dynasty sometimes visit the landscape together to communicate and create works. Under the policy of "promoting entertainment", the scholar-bureaucrats form the exceeding entertainment mind. Their social activities contain many amusement activities, for example, banquet. Many entertainment items like dancing, pitch-pot game, drinking games and flower transferring are quite popular during the banquet. Moreover, playing chess is also a popular game during the banquet and leisure time. Research on the entertainment activities having the function of communication of the scholar-bureaucrats during the leisure time is one important basis to get a good understanding of the social activities and spiritual outlook of the scholar-bureaucrats of North Song Dynasty.Chapter four is about the research on the spiritual style and ideological concept of the scholar-bureaucrats in the Northern Song Dynasty, including the discussion on the ideas of social activities from their family education.Growing up of scholar-bureaucrats class in Northern Song Dynasty, and advocating culture and restraining military have given quite different existence and development circumstances for the scholar-bureaucrats. Mind and spirit of the scholar-bureaucrats have had great changes then, which enhance the social responsibility and the group and individual consciousness.At that time, the social activity of scholar-bureaucrats is quite logical which is shown as self-confidence, equality, openness, and gentleness. Cautiousness, pureness, advocating morality and justice of the social-activity are the main concept. Spiritual outlook, mind status and concept have great influence on the social activities of the Northern Song Dynasty scholar-bureaucrats.Chapter five digs into the social-activities of the scholar-bureaucrat group. The scholar-bureaucrats in the Northern Song China combines literariness, academic and Political nature. This section chiefly specifies the formation of the political clique, and the marital relations.Social activities of scholar bureaucrats come from different motives. It might be the similar nature or interest, and also it can be the mutual admiration. Moreover, the political position also decides the social activities. Cabal's scramble is quite serious in Northern Song Dynasty. Scholar-bureaucrats take use of social activities to expand their cabals. Similarly they also develop their cabal relations by intermarriage in order to keep the political benefits. Social activities to cabal and then intermarriage is a common mode for the social activities relationship development.The emperor takes use of the punishment of all related people and other legal measures to interfere the social activities, which might cause the political risk for the social activities of the scholar bureaucrats. So their social activities are quite shallow, although it is quite popular. Chapter six is about the research on the conditions of the scholar-bureaucrats' communications with military generals, imperial clansmen, empresses, members of wife's families, eunuchs, merchants, geisha, witches, and alchemists.The policy of "advocating culture and restraining military" has been taken in Northern Song Dynasty by absorbing the experience of the previous troubled dynasty. Emperor governs the country together with the scholar bureaucrats and the generals, imperial clan, queens and princesses, mother and wife relatives of the emperor, eunuch are controlled strictly. Their social activities with the scholar bureaucrats have some limits. Political position of the scholar bureaucrats is rising quickly, which has obvious advantage than the generals and other. Moreover, social activities of scholar bureaucrats with the mother and wife relatives of the emperor are often for the political association, which compose one part of the political struggle of Northern Song Dynasty.During the Northern Song Dynasty, with the development of the commercial economy, political and social position of the businessman rise quickly. Scholar bureaucrats did not take the making money by doing business as the shame. They also take social activities with the businessman and rich people, even they get intermarriage. Moreover, scholar bureaucrats also take social activities with the females mainly geisha. They often visit prostitutes and sing with geisha which irritates the creation and spread of poetry, which is meaningful for the culture. Witches and wizards activities are quite popular then and there are many scholar bureaucrats trusting them and communicate with them quite often, even try to rebel. Emperor pays close attention on them and attacks them seriously.The last section discusses emphatically about the conditions of the scholar-bureaucrats'communications with monks and taoist priests. The Song Dynasty governor performed the loose religion policy on the whole, which kept the scholar-bureaucrats to be socially active in making social interaction with monks and taoist priests.Buddhism and Taoism developed quickly then as the loosen control policy was conducted in Northern Song Dynasty. The scholar bureaucrats communicate with them quite often which promote the interflow of the Taoism, Buddhism and scholar-bureaucrats and the literary creation. It also affects the life style and attitude of the scholar bureaucrats of the Northern Song Dynasty.