Song (960-1279 AD)

 

The Song dynasty, from 960-1279, was first ruled by Emperor Taizu. Taizu was originally a general. There was a period of great art and inventing. Inventions include moveable type, gunpowder, mechanical clocks, paper money, and magnetic compasses. The idea of fast growing rice was also introduced, which allowed farmers to harvest not only one, but also a second rice crop each year. One artistic concept that arose was painting, which was often done with black ink. Many artists work depicted things in nature, like branches and flowers. Song armies never regained the western lands lost by the Tang and Sui dynasties or northern lands lost during the Tang decline. In the early 1100s the Jurchen conquered the northern china and gave way to the Jin Empire.