culture song dynasty song dynasty culturally rich sophisticated age china visual arts music literature philosophy officials ruling bureaucracy underwent strict extensive examination process reached new heights education chinese society general chinese culture enhanced widespread printing growing literacy arts appreciation art gentry class flourished song dynasty especially regard paintings art practiced trends painting styles gentry notably shifted northern southern song periods influenced gradual embrace neo political ideology court people urban areas enjoyed theatrical drama stage restaurants variety regional cooking lavish clothing sold markets urban rural people engaged seasonal festivities religious holidays visual arts chinese painting song dynasty reached new level development landscape painting style painting meaning mountain meaning river prominent features chinese landscape art emphasis laid landscape painting song period grounded chinese philosophy stressed humans tiny vast greater writers pursued discovery patterns principles believed caused social natural phenomena making translucent complex use developed song period particularly popular song period black red song period featured beautifully carved artwork miniature nature scenes landscapes simple decorative motifs intricate bronze casting jade carving sculpture architecture painting portraits closely viewed objects like birds branches held high esteem song chinese landscape painting paramount beginning song dynasty distinctive landscape style emerged artists mastered formula creating intricate realistic scenes placed foreground background retained qualities vast infinite space distant mountain peaks rise high clouds mist streaming rivers run foreground significant difference painting trends period southern song period paintings northern song officials influenced political ideals bringing order world largest issues affecting society paintings depicted huge sweeping landscapes hand southern song officials interested reforming society smaller scale method believed better chance eventual success paintings focused smaller visually closer intimate scenes background depicted detail realm substance concern artist viewer change attitude era stemmed largely rising influence philosophy adherents focused reforming society seen efforts promote small private instead large state controlled seen northern song era southern northern painting art high associated gentry class main artistic poetry song dynasty avid art collectors meet groups discuss paintings rate colleagues friends poet statesman accomplice affairs borrowing art pieces study copy admired piece exchange proposed small round paintings popular collected albums poets write poems match theme mood painting avid art collectors song scholars readily appreciate artworks commissioned painters found shops common scholars criticized artists renowned schools professor early chinese history points song scholars appreciation art created peers extended living simply professional artists northern song new class scholar artists emerged possess skills academy painters proficiency common marketplace painters painting simpler times criticize groups mere professionals relied paid commissions paint merely enjoyment self expression scholar artists considered painters concentrated realistic depictions employed colorful palette worst accepted monetary payment work better marketplace considered real artists song period acclaimed court painters highly emperors royal family greatest landscape painters given patronage song court painted original river festival known chinese visual art emperor song commissioned art project numerous paintings flute based woman poet earlier han dynasty dynasty court painters included member imperial family known song period buddhism saw small revival persecution dynasty seen continued construction sculpture artwork rock carvings similar design sculptures song temple features wealth song era buddhist sculptures including deities clad lavish imperial monastic robes paintings poetry literature chinese literature song period contained range different genres enriched social complexity period earlier dynasty viewed era chinese poetry particularly style poetry important poetic developments famous poets song era form especially associated song poetry song developments poetry included works social critic pioneer new style politically controversial renowned master eccentric brilliant premier chinese female poet having roots dynasty development brief existence southern immediate preceding song form chinese poetry found greatest acceptance popularity song dynasty song poets high court chancellor fan ardent great military general especially known poetry great poet ruled southern wrote famous works time prisoner song court following demise kingdom important transitional figure considered major song poet acclaimed major poet historiography literature remained prominent song previous ages successive ages china historian responsible compiling new book covering history dynasty chancellor political nemesis responsible heading team scholars compiled enormous historical work universal history completed total million written chinese characters volumes covered major themes intricate chinese history way 10th century fall compiled condensed books project totally complete efforts disciples time death large works written song period great books song compiled 10th century fully edited time 11th century largest publication prime massive encyclopedia consisting million written chinese characters divided volumes rhyme written song dynasty dominant buddhism china period significant buddhist literature example collection buddhist expanded travel record literature popular category literature song period accounts travel experiences typically written narrative prose styles included authors great example chinese travel literature song period record stone bell mountain technical scientific writings song period eminent authors scientific technical fields contemporary published dream pool essays enormous book covered wide range subjects including literature art military strategy mathematics astronomy geology geography engineering architecture medicine equally brilliant peer created different star maps wrote treatise ben illustrated related subjects wrote famous treatise described detail ingenious astronomical clock tower constructed capital city figures greatest technical authors field time producing book book included description silk machine incorporated earliest known use mechanical belt drive order function literary field rescue people treatise famine prevention relief edited 12th century record tea written master managing communal written great authors written works pertaining geography song book early form local geographic existed china 1st century matured form known treatise place replaced old map guide song major differences products local initiative decision making typically chapters length printed large audience products demands central government typically chapters long widespread availability printing song allowed ordinary people access materials read exclusively experts printed texts agriculture medicine domestic economics geography rituals performing arts theatre drama china trace roots academy music known founded early 8th century dynasty historian asserts northern song era capital real center performing arts industry involving theatre gambling prostitution food rise consumption merchants scholar officials states accelerated growth performance food industries asserting direct link close proximity cities theatres located pleasure districts theatres large entertain audiences thousand drawing huge crowds nearby businesses chief crowd gathered composed merchant class government officials went restaurants attended theatre performances holidays dramatic style employed style poetic lyrics capital shifted dramatic style developed separately different regional genres musical drama different regional speech dialogue entailed unique sets role types employed different types musical instruments playing different tunes drama singer preferred play accompanied string percussion instruments drama multitude singers stage set string wind instruments preferred color clothing distinguished rank theatre actors song similar vendors wore specific outfits identify guild belonged actors generic costumes reflected role type played stage student young man young woman official soldier etc actors theatrical skills drama schools musicians found work theatre industry plays performed markets accompanied music actors stage spoke lines classical chinese vernacular chinese imitated common spoken language introduced theatrical performances dynasty trained speak classical language acting commonly drew membership lowest classes society prostitutes themes enjoyed stage varied corrupt officials comedy acts titles like setting fire delivering soup raising best wine stolen catching monkey restaurant play survived southern song era featuring clown stealing food wine wedding banquet act quick comedy sketch renting room act surprisingly actors stage wholesale monopoly theatrical entertainment vendors street singing songs beating find compensate percussion instruments draw crowds practice widespread west claims city turned stage citizens essential audience songs played stage performances tunes originated vendors songs contests held new year day determine best chants songs selling winners brought imperial court perform southern song states vendors presented palace gold vendors rich single evening theatrical stunts performed gain attention fried rice ball vendors hanging small red lamps portable bamboo racks beat drum crowds puppet shows streets popular festivities ancient china domestic public pleasures rich urban environment unique song dynasty annual festivals holidays provided time joy meant chance borrow food alcoholic drink join celebration people gather local sanctuary observe festival games theatrical performances festivities new years considered important year chinese occasion beginning february western calendar preparations new years festival took place month time people painting door gods crafting paper lucky characters welcoming spring making printed images cooking special kinds foods red beans widely popular festival held 15th day 1st lunar month according official period best festivals held known great variety colorful paper shapes sizes active recalled dreams earlier northern song capital host festivals tens thousands colorful brightly lit paper hoisted long poles main street poles wrapped colorful silk numerous dramatic paper figures flying wind like holidays festival supposedly period year depicted artwork mentioned artist argue painting actually represented time autumn year advent discovery gunpowder china lavish fireworks displays held festivities example martial demonstration entertain court emperor recorded large fireworks display held alongside chinese dancers strange costumes moving clouds colored smoke performance common people purchased city vendors simple sticks bamboo filled small gunpowder discontinued devastation dynasty lavish chinese revived celebrated song dynasty chinese carnival celebrations held nationwide emperor felt great occasion grand display renowned military victories abundant long granting grand throne sacrifices deities installation crown prince marriages imperial family etc clothing types clothing different clothing trends song period clothes china modeled seasons outward symbols social class coal heating home scarce expensive people wore clothing extra silk fur lined coats winter clothing material preferred rich silk special occasions silk robes gold clothing material poor cloth cotton clothes widely available south types clothes worn peasants largely uniform appearance color standard black white case upper class elite fact wealthy leading members society followed accepted guidelines ritual requirements clothing upper class grade social hierarchy distinguished color specific ornamentation robes shape type style worn rigid order especially beginning dynasty lines hierarchy slowly began color purple reserved solely attire rank officials higher began ranks officials bore color lower grade civil officials government protesting rigid regulations attire wealthy members merchant class contributed rules ceremonial attire worn certain members society visible civil officials class rich merchants business owners officials distinguished long robes reaching ground merchants wore came waist trousers pants trousers introduced china 4th century exclusive merchants soldier wore trousers uniform trousers worn common people men soldiers military officers professional boxing champions preferred sign attire song women distinguished men clothing left right women wore long dresses came knee wore skirts jackets short long outside road women wealthy means chose wear square purple shoulders ladies wore hair imperial wives officials wealthy merchants wore head ornaments gold silver shaped form flowers people song dynasty left homes sort shops city specialized certain types hats including caps pointed tails belts buddhist monks shaved heads hat sort cover heads people purchase leather shoes called wooden expensive food cuisine song period works dreams preserve lists names food dishes customer restaurants festivals modest dining peculiar names dishes provide clues types food ingredients judging listed dishes pepper sauce oil salt song era cuisine different chinese cuisine today additional ingredients included crushed chinese nuts citrus oil regional differences culture brought different types foods certain areas cooking traditions regional cultures blended case southern song capital mass exodus north people brought style cooking foods popular previous capital blended cooking traditions records indicate period capital sported restaurants served southern chinese cuisine capital officials native provinces southeast found northern cuisine lacking sufficient tastes fact texts song era provide use phrases refer specifically northern southern cooking respectively restaurants known example restaurant served foods restaurants wanted hot warm room temperature cold foods descendants owned restaurants found regional varieties cooking sponsored restaurants included restaurants catering cuisine emphasized use pepper dishes coastal foods shrimp fish memory patience keen larger restaurants serving dinner parties required dishes slight error occurred guest reported mistake head restaurant verbally salary docked extreme cases kicked establishment good early morning wide avenue special breakfast items sold included fried pieces kinds hot steamed shops popular remained open day night imperial way according song source night markets closed night watch reopened fifth gained reputation staying open winter storms days winter exotic foreign foods imported china abroad including dates persian wine rice wine common china fact noted 13th century venetian traveler based wine known china ancient han dynasty chinese ventured wine reserved elite wine included pear juice fruit juice honey drinks tea juice dairy products farming foreign concepts chinese explains absence cheese milk diet beef rarely eaten bull important draft animal main diet lower classes remained rice pork fish known restaurant dinner upper classes eat dog meat rich known consumed array different chicken deer fox crab local freshwater fish nearby lake river caught brought market provided duck common fruits consumed included golden chinese japanese region kinds different kinds produced combination dishes song period included cooked rice wine lotus seed soup soup fish cooked sweet soup baked stuffed sour filling pork mixed vegetable fruit strips stuffed steamed fried soup fruit cooked honey honey baked honey flour fat pork flour honey shaped girls faces soldiers armor like door guards called likeness foods philosophy song intellectuals sought answers philosophical political questions classics renewed interest ideals society ancient times coincided decline buddhism largely regarded foreign offering solutions practical problems buddhism period continued cultural accepted seen native pure conservative continuing popularity buddhism seen strong evidence achievements arts painting set completed conservative movement seen likes staunch anti written work ben wrote theory buddhism easily penetrated chinese culture earlier southern northern period argued buddhism widely accepted china traditional institutions weakened time factors foreign ruling north china political caused warfare emperor abolished ranks favor taught bureaucracy drafted civil service examinations heavily sponsored popular ideology buddhism legitimate rule given free influence flourish dominate chinese culture periods historian describes period reverted state wrote curse buddhism empire thousand years man day people drunk entered bones surely overcome talk conclusion root evil buddhism presented historical example uprooted chinese culture old time engaged violent controversy devoted teaching exposition won day teachings han times schools thought flourished revived way forth schools expired effect called root cause order overcome evil cast stark contrast perceived alien morally buddhism nonetheless borrowed ideals buddhism provide revival ideal ethical charity relief need inspired song government contrast earlier heavily buddhist period wealthy pious buddhist families buddhist temples handled charity poor song government took ideal role instead programs welfare charity refer society section addition historian notes situation song period philosophical taking buddhism earlier role true buddhist monks given official appointments managers enterprises initiative came officials sense buddhist idea compassion measures developed practical expression appropriated chinese state buddhism lost prominence elite circles government chinese society mean buddhism chinese culture buddhism continued flourish song period emperor song monk share doctrine imperial court like julian promoting roman leading members roman society pushing christianity influence lower classes 13th century succeed driving buddhism higher chinese society terms buddhist influenced beliefs teachings northern song era scholars brothers major influence leading architects emphasized moral self cultivation service ruler state healing society opposed like fan pursued agenda advise ruler best decisions common good brothers taught workings nature taught principle vital energy principle nature moral physical principle marriage moral principle trees physical principles exist function normally substance vital energy allowed song intellectuals teachings innate goodness human nature time providing explanation human wrongdoing essence principle underlying human good vital energy potential corrupted giving rise selfish negative human traits song neo philosophers finding certain purity originality ancient classical texts wrote commentaries influential philosophers synthesis thought buddhist ideas official imperial ideology late song times late 19th century basis teaching influenced brothers greatly extended teachings forming core included emphasis books doctrine mean great learning chapters ancient book rites viewpoint improvement world began improvement mind outlined great learning approach contemporaries writings forbidden cited students taking emperor song found writing intriguing reversing policy making requirement students study commentaries books
Culture of the Song dynasty