A Study On The Relationship Between Song Li And The Song Dynasty (1100 - 1164)

The relationship between Song Dynasty and Koryo in the period of north and south Song Dynasty is an important and very distinctive period in the history of China and Korea. During this period, the international situation in Northeast Asia can be said to have experienced drastic changes, Liao Empire who was strong and thought nobody could beat him has declined, Jurchen who was unknown has quickly risen. Emperor Huizong of Song contacted Koryo and tried to Unite Koryo by the way of improving the status of Koryo in order to balance Liao. Hui-zong’s policy which is "United Koryo to control Liao" is also a continuation of the consistent policy of the Song Dynasty in the late eleventh century since the resumption of diplomatic relations of the two sides. Song Dyansty gave extremely preferential treatment to Koryo. In the year of Zhenghe period (1111-1117),Hui-zong elevated Koryo as Guo-xinshi which is equal to Liao. By the way of this policy, Hui-zong hoped to let Koryo divorce from Liao and unite Song to beat Liao together. But Koryo didn’t like to unite Song for their nation security,so the attitude of Koryo is very negative. At the same time, Jurchen rised who against Liao, so Hui-zong planed to unite Jurchen to beat Liao in order to get the sixteen states of "You-yun"which were taken away by Liao. He want to attempt to establish a great credit and fulfill the long cherished wish by North Song emperors. After several negotiations, the two sides signed an agreement in the year of1120, known as the "Sea of the Unio" between Song and and Jurchen. Prior to this, there was a battle between Koryo and Jurchen called "He-lan-dian",so Koryo has a clear understanding of Jurchen’s strength. Koryo is not optimistic about Hui-zong’s plan which is "unit Jurchen to fight Liao",and has gave an advice to Hui-zong to be careful, but Huizong ignored. Finally, although Song got the sixteen states from Liao after paying a heavy price, they prematurely exposed the weakness to Jin, that’s lead to Jin’s invasion to South Song. Jin perished Liao at the year of1125, after that Jin began to attack North Song immediately and captured Kai-feng city which is Song’s capital. Song’s emperor Hui-zong and Qin-zong were taken by Jin and North Song died out. Koryo was also forced to obey Jin. Jin became the new overlord of Northeast Asia and built up a new order which let itself as the center of this circle.The transformation in northeast asian political situation caused southern Song dynasty to adjust its foreign policy to Koryo, abondoning positive one and neglecting Koryo’s open policy.Out of doubt and disbelief,southern Song rejected the demand of Koryo to pay tribute.From then on,due to self-defence,Koryo was not willing to have more political connection with southern Song,rarely sending embassy to southern Song.The relationship between two dynasties cooled down,and from the year of1164was compeltely disrupted.In its low point,the connection and information tie were maintained by Song merchants,with them active as two dynasties’untitled embassy.In total,two dynasties’ relationship was influenced by ones among Song-Liao,Song-Jin, Liao-Koryo and Jin-Koryo.The relationship between two during such period can be regarded as the most turtulent one in their foreign history,formerly hot,then changing to cooling down and disbelief,and then to being disrupted,to the ice point.the outer condition they inherited contributed to such outcomes,thus forming the great fluctuation,great transformation, great reorganization.Yet,given such unstable political situation,the trade tie and culture exchange between two were very high,as two dynasties both adopted encouragement policy,facilitating thier trade.The personell exchange was also frequently operated in a two-way fashion,so having the character of interactiveness.all these have widespread impact on their seperate aspects of social life.All in all,during such period of Song dynasty,in the tier of official tributing relation,their relationship was low,while in the one of residential trade one high.In such sense,it can be summarized as "cool in politics,yet hot in economy".