Asian study 209

        ASIAN STUDY 209 The Golden Age of Chinese Culture Name Institution Date   Question 1: It is generally agreed that the “major reforms” led by Wang Anshi in the Northern Song Dynasty led to the downfall of the Northern Song, hence the phrase “Reforming into Collapse” used in The Age of Confucian Rule. Why the well- meaning reforms ended up in such an unwelcome state? Discuss this issue with special reference to the reason for and purpose of the reforms and the downfall of the Northern Song. Even though, emperor Zhenzong had introduced   successful and long lasting system, the Song policies increased led to the decline of the Song dynasty. From the eleventh century there was push for reforms, but there were unintended consequences (Lewis, 2009. While the Daoist and Buddhist faiths and religious practices had   enriched the spiritual life of the people, which held them together, this could not stop the downfall of the Song dynasty (Lewis, 2009). Wang Mang of the Han dynasty and Wang Anshi of the Northern Song Dynasty were two of the most controversial reforms of traditional China who introduced ideas that would be considered socialist nowadays. Wang Anshi also supported reform of the civil service examination system and better training to improve administration efficiency.  Wang Anshi’s reforms transformed the political and economic landscape of the Northern Song dynasty as this changed administration and the way commerce was carried out.             Anshi the Grand/ chief Councilor of the Song dynasty tried to revive the economy that had started shrinking, while seeking to protect the dynasty from the northern invaders. Even as he emphasized Confucian political elements including the respect of age and tradition, his reforms were radical. As such, his proposed reforms were mainly to improve administrative efficiency and proper governance rather than humanitarian causes.  Even after the collapse of Northern Song Empire, Southern Song was not able to consolidate power as even hose tasked with implementing the reforms did not have the same self-discipline as Wang (Lewis, 2009).  Anshi sought to improve the peasant base, and introduced agricultural loans targeting the peasants, allowing them to borrow the seed grain during spring and repaying at harvest time.   Similarly, he introduced price controls and supported small businesses, based on the assumptions that taxes were effective and like previous emperors supported state monopolies in commercial activities. However, the taxes extended to property and proposed labor conscription in place of he graduated tax.  Even though, he also emphasized fiscal accountability by recording expenses, the reforms were radical and there was opposition among conservatives, scholars and those who would lose out. Among the money lenders and landlords with political influence these reforms affected their ability to earn money and coupled with dishonest administers his reform agenda was ineffective.             Wang was concerned with the role played by the great merchants, arguing that they were like plutocrats as they bought cheaply and profited greatly by selling at high prices when the market supplies had dwindled (Lewis, 2009). As such, his most notable economic policies were associated with trying to limit the economic power of the monopolists and large merchant families, where the function of the primary wholesale distribution would be assumed by the state.  Hence, produce was bought in bulk during the harvest seasons and sold when supply was low to reduce shortages and stabilize the prices. On the military front, there was compulsory military service and families were required to provide able-bodied men required for the local militia forces and protecting the frontier.   Despite Wang’s aim to strengthen the Song dynasty, some of his reforms were unsuccessful and led to social unrest as he was seen as being totalitarian. In exercising his power, Wang failed to consider how political relations affected Northern Song, and there were growing feuds and political power plot, despite all his attempts to improve the dynasty politically and enhance its military strength. It is no surprise that many of his reforms were abolished when he died, and even as they were lateral adopted at different times and by the time the northern invaders captured Kaifeng, the Northern Song capital, the capital had to be moved to Southern China.  Military incursions from hostile communities especially from the north also meant that the Northern Song administrators faced difficulties defending the dynasty at a time when people did not fully embra...