Ritual in Song Chinese Warfare, 960-1279

The book explores how new rituals, not aligned with traditional religions, became objects for the production of power in the Song dynasty, leading to its decline and overthrow.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Song dynasty of China produced a series of military treatises that played a crucial role in warfare and government. These treatises introduced new rituals that were not aligned with China's traditional religions, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. These rituals involved cultural and supernatural emblems that mimicked natural forces and became objects for the production of power. The book argues that these new rituals and associated cosmology and ideology were one of the factors that led to the decline and overthrow of the Song dynasty.

The Song dynasty was a period of significant bureaucratic centralization in China. This centralization involved the collection and systematic publication of various lost texts in encyclopedias. The new military treatises were part of this broader project and were designed to enhance the Song's military capabilities.

The new rituals introduced in the military treatises were not based on China's traditional religions. Instead, they were designed to harness the power of natural forces and create a sense of awe and reverence among the soldiers. These rituals involved the use of symbols, rituals, and ceremonies that were meant to invoke the supernatural and enhance the soldiers' fighting abilities.

One of the key aspects of the new rituals was the use of cultural and supernatural emblems. These emblems were designed to represent the natural forces that the soldiers were fighting against. For example, the dragon was a symbol of power and strength, and it was used in many of the rituals. The dragon was often depicted in paintings, sculptures, and other forms of art, and it was believed to have the ability to bring good luck and prosperity to the soldiers.

Another important aspect of the new rituals was the use of cosmology and ideology. The Song dynasty was a time of great scientific and philosophical development, and the new rituals were designed to reflect this. The rituals were based on a belief in the existence of a divine order and the importance of maintaining harmony with the natural world.

The new rituals and associated cosmology and ideology were widely disseminated throughout society. This dissemination was facilitated by the Song dynasty's extensive network of schools and universities. These institutions taught the new rituals and cosmology to students, and they also played a role in promoting the Song's ideology.

However, the new rituals and associated cosmology and ideology also had negative consequences. One of the main problems was that they were often used to justify the Song's military aggression. The Song dynasty was a powerful empire, and it used its military might to expand its territory and control over other countries. The new rituals and cosmology were used to justify this aggression, and they were often used to create a sense of fear and intimidation among the people of other countries.

Another problem was that the new rituals and cosmology were not compatible with China's traditional religions. This led to a conflict between the new rituals and the traditional religions, and it eventually led to the decline and overthrow of the Song dynasty.

In conclusion, the new military treatises produced by China's Song dynasty played a crucial role in warfare and government. These treatises introduced new rituals that were not aligned with China's traditional religions, and they were designed to harness the power of natural forces and create a sense of awe and reverence among the soldiers. The new rituals and associated cosmology and ideology were widely disseminated throughout society, but they also had negative consequences. The new rituals and cosmology were used to justify the Song's military aggression, and they were often used to create a sense of fear and intimidation among the people of other countries. This conflict between the new rituals and the traditional religions eventually led to the decline and overthrow of the Song dynasty.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138944022