What is the Song Dynasty of China? Explaining the Historical Background of Goldfish Origin
# What is the Song Dynasty of China? Explaining the Historical Background of Goldfish Origin
Up to now, we have looked at the birth of goldfish from a biological perspective. The fish called Funa, mutation, pigment cells... scientific stories continued.
But the birth of goldfish is not just a biological story.
Historical background is heavily involved.
It is said that goldfish were first kept in the "Song Dynasty" of China. But what kind of era was the "Song Dynasty"?
This time, a little history talk. Let's peek into China in the era when goldfish were born.
When was the Song Dynasty?
Northern Song and Southern Song: A Dynasty Lasting Over 300 Years
Song (So) is a Chinese dynasty that lasted from 960 to 1279.
In Japan, it corresponds to the middle of the Heian period to the middle of the Kamakura period. It's quite a long period.
Song is largely divided into two periods:
Northern Song (960-1127)
- Capital: Kaifeng (Kaifeng)
- City located in the north
- About 170 years
Southern Song (1127-1279)
- Capital: Lin'an (Hangzhou)
- Moved to the south
- About 150 years
Why did they move south? Because they were attacked by northern nomadic tribes (Jurchen) and were driven out of the capital. But even after moving south, Song culture did not decline, but rather blossomed further.
Goldfish Were Born in the Southern Song Period
It is thought that goldfish began to be kept as ornamental fish mainly in the Southern Song period.
12th to 13th century, that is, the 1100s to 1200s.
Around the capital Lin'an (now Hangzhou). It is a warm and water-rich region in the Yangtze River basin.
Song Dynasty was "Golden Age of Economy"
Unprecedented Economic Development
During the Song Dynasty, the Chinese economy achieved phenomenal development.
Expansion of Economic Scale:
- Agricultural production increased significantly
- Commerce became active
- Handicrafts developed
- One of the richest countries in the world
Looking at specific numbers shows how amazing it was.
Song Dynasty Population:
- Early Northern Song: About 60 million
- Southern Song period: Over 100 million
It is said that the world population at that time was about 300 million, so China alone accounted for one-third of the world!
An increase in population is proof that food was abundant and society was stable.
Why Did It Develop So Much?
There are several reasons why Song prospered.
1. Innovation in Agricultural Technology
- Introduction of Champa rice (early ripening variety)
- Spread of double cropping
- Improvement of irrigation technology
2. Liberalization of Commerce
- Market economy developed
- Revitalization of private commerce
- Free economic activity in cities
3. Invention of Paper Money
- World's first paper money "Jiaozi"
- Transactions became convenient
- Economic activity accelerated
4. Development of Maritime Trade
- Shipbuilding technology progress
- Practical use of compass
- Trade with Southeast Asia, India, Middle East
A wealthy society creates leeway. And leeway nurtures culture.
Development of Urban Culture
Emergence of Mega Cities
In the Song Dynasty, China had large cities unparalleled in the world.
Kaifeng (Capital of Northern Song):
- Population over 1 million
- World's largest city at that time
- Downtown areas and entertainment districts developed
Lin'an (Capital of Southern Song, now Hangzhou):
- Population over 1 million
- Prospered as a commercial city
- Called "Paradise on Earth"
By the way, European cities at that time were at most tens of thousands in scale. Even London and Paris were still small towns.
Birth of Citizen Culture
Various people gather in big cities.
Officials, merchants, craftsmen, scholars, artists... and wealthy citizens.
The characteristic of the Song Dynasty is that culture spread to the common people.
Culture Enjoyed by Citizens:
- Tea houses (Kissaten)
- Restaurants (Shurou)
- Theaters (Drama, Music)
- Bookstores (Development of printing technology)
- Markets (All kinds of goods)
And Gardens.
Wealthy merchants and officials made gardens in their homes. Making small ponds, planting plants, arranging stones. Composing poetry there, talking with friends.
This garden culture becomes the foundation of goldfish keeping.
Cultural Maturity: Art and Learning
Golden Age of Literati Culture
The Song Dynasty is also an era when Literati (Intellectual) culture blossomed.
What are Literati:
- Bureaucrats who passed the Imperial Examination
- People excellent in poetry, calligraphy, and painting
- Value learning and art
Song dynasty literati were not just officials. They were artists and philosophers.
Representative Literati:
- Su Shi (Soshoku): Poet, Calligrapher, Painter
- Ouyang Xiu (Ouyang Shu): Historian, Poet
- Wang Anshi (Oan Seki): Politician, Writer
- Zhu Xi (Shuki): Philosopher, Confucian Scholar
They loved nature, pursued beauty, and expressed their thoughts through art.
Refinement of Art
Artistic Achievements of Song Dynasty:
1. Painting
- Completion of landscape painting
- Development of bird-and-flower painting
- Fusion of realism and spirituality
2. Calligraphy
- Individualistic calligraphy styles
- Establishment of calligraphy as art
3. Ceramics
- Completion of celadon and white porcelain
- Birth of world-famous masterpieces
4. Literature
- Development of Ci (a type of poetry)
- Refinement of prose
This artistic maturity nurtured "a heart that appreciates beautiful things".
Sensibility to feel "rare, beautiful" when finding a red Funa. This is possible only because of this cultural soil.
Development of Ornamental Culture
Bonsai and Penjing
Another important culture developed in the Song Dynasty.
Bonsai and Penjing.
Penjing (Bonkei):
- Reproducing landscape scenery in a small pot
- Arranging rocks, plants, water
- Miniature nature
Doesn't this resemble goldfish bowl culture?
Enjoying the beauty of nature confined in a small vessel. This sense also leads to goldfish keeping.
Popularity of Flower Cultivation
Culture of growing and enjoying plants also developed greatly in the Song Dynasty.
Popular Plants:
- Peony: Symbol of wealth
- Plum: Symbol of integrity
- Chrysanthemum: Symbol of nobility
- Lotus: Symbol of purity
Rare varieties, beautiful colors, unique shapes... People looked for plant variations, grew them, and appreciated them.
This culture of "looking for rare things" and "growing beautiful things". This also turned to goldfish.
Buddhist Culture and Thought of Life Release
Influence of Buddhism
In the Song Dynasty, Buddhism was deeply rooted in society.
Especially Zen developed and had a great influence on literati.
In Buddhist teachings, there is the idea of Non-killing (Fusessho). The teaching that living things must not be killed.
Custom of Life Release (Hojo)
From this thought of non-killing, the custom of Life Release (Hojo) was born.
What is Life Release:
- Returning captured living things to nature
- Good deed to save life
- Act of accumulating merit
Making a pond called Life Release Pond in the temple precincts and releasing fish and turtles there. Protecting living things in a safe place with no natural enemies.
Life Release Ponds Raised Goldfish
This Life Release Pond played an important role in the birth of goldfish.
Characteristics of Life Release Pond:
- No natural enemies
- Feed is given regularly
- People visit frequently to observe
- Rare individuals are also protected
Even if a red Funa is born, it would be eaten immediately in the wild. But if it's a Life Release Pond, it can survive.
And people who came to worship notice, "Oh, there is a red fish!"
Thus, red Funa were discovered and cherished.
Why was it the Song Dynasty?
Looking back so far, we can understand something.
It was no coincidence that goldfish were born in the Song Dynasty.
Necessary Conditions for Goldfish Birth:
1. Economic Leeway
- Can spend time and money on hobbies
- Can afford to keep ornamental fish
2. Urban Culture
- Development of garden culture
- Maturity of ornamental culture
3. Artistic Sensibility
- Heart to appreciate beautiful things
- Interest in rare things
4. Buddhist Thought
- Protected environment called Life Release Pond
- Heart to cherish living things
5. Technological Foundation
- Ceramics industry (can make vessels)
- Knowledge of fish farming
The place and time where all these came together. That was China in the Song Dynasty.
Lin'an of Southern Song: Hometown of Goldfish
The City of Hangzhou
Lin'an, the capital of Southern Song, is now Hangzhou.
Hangzhou is still a tourist city famous for beautiful lakes and gardens. The remnants of those days called "Paradise on Earth" still remain.
Characteristics of Hangzhou:
- Beautiful lake called West Lake
- Warm climate
- Abundant water
- Fertile land in the Yangtze River basin
Optimal environment for Funa to live. And optimal culture for people to enjoy ornamental fish.
Records Remaining in Literature
In the Southern Song period, records about goldfish begin to appear in literature.
Composed in poems, drawn in pictures, recorded in essays. From "rare red fish" to being recognized as an existence called "Goldfish".
Next time, we will look at specific stories of how goldfish spread to the imperial court and wealthy classes in this Southern Song period.
Summary: The Era Gave Birth to Goldfish
The birth of goldfish was not just a biological coincidence.
Of the era called Song:
- Economic prosperity
- Maturity of urban culture
- Artistic refinement
- Development of ornamental culture
- Penetration of Buddhist thought
Only when all these combined, the culture called goldfish was born.
If it were a different time, a different place, the red Funa might have disappeared without anyone noticing.
But it happened to be born in China in the Song Dynasty. That's why we can enjoy goldfish even now, more than a thousand years later.
References
(References omitted for brevity, please refer to the Japanese text or original sources)
Note: This article is an essay for general readers and not a specialized history paper. Some parts are simplified to explain the complex history of the Song Dynasty clearly.
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- How Were Goldfish Kept in the Song Dynasty Court? Ornamental Fish of Emperors and Nobles (Part 6)
