Research On The Famine Policy In The Xifeng Period Of The Northern Song Dynasty

Song Empire was standing on a high incidence season of nature disaster.During Xifeng period( 1068-1085) which ruled by the emperor Shenzong, many kinds of disasters occurred frequently and caused serious losses of civilians' lives and property. Famine relief policies were accompanied and generated by the occurrence of disasters and famines. In order to reduce the losses caused by disasters, the government promulgated the disaster relief law and implemented disaster relief policies. During Xifeng period, flood and drought occurred many times and cost large losses. Many scholar-bureaucrats and officials living in the Northern Song Dynasty offered suggestions of relieving disasters by composing a large number of documents. To control flood.the government took a series of measures including relieving the people in stricken areas directly,reducing or remitting taxes, recruiting famine refugee and so on. At that time, the rulers also attached great importance to the Yellow River and the Bian River governance. They took actions to do a good job of flood control and disaster prevention. In order to alleviate the drought, the government started construction of irrigation and water conservancy. In the process of relief, the court also strengthened administrative management by promulgating relevant laws, carrying out the strict prize and punishment system, providing appropriate supplies and some other ways to make the relieving work go on smoothly. At the same time, the political situation of Xifeng period changed drastically and Wang Anshi Revolution began. The disaster relief policies of the new law,such as Beanstalk method and immune method, provoked a fierce debate between the reformists and conservatives. However, from the point of disaster relief, the new law does have a positive effect. Overall, although many disasters took place in Xifeng period, the society maintained stability because of the policies of putting people first, adjusting to changing circumstances,strengthening management and keeping strict rules for reward and punishment, which provided enlightenment to the development of famine relief working nowadays.