On The Historical Position Of The Five Dynasties And Ten Kingdoms

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms could be the significant transitional period of Tang-Song Transition.In spite of the short duration,the enormous social variation begins along with the trends of transformation in the middle of Tang,and opens the tendency of development in Zhao Song.This thesis would like to discuss the historical status of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.Considering the theory of the innovation in Tang and Song Dynasties as basis,this phase could occupy an important position in Chinese history and become a connecting link between the preceding and the following,in the respect of politics,economics,culture and society.Without the foundation laid in Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms,the booming prosperity could not exist.Consequently,this period could be significantly important.This thesis believes that great changes mainly display in the following aspects during the period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.Firstly,there have been some changes in the political system.This thesis discussed how the system of laws and regulations in the period inherited from Tang Dynasty and influenced the following Song Dynasty from a unique perspective of institutional transformation.On one hand,Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms not only put an end to the chaos of those military governors from the late Tang Dynasty,but also achieved the local unity,which laid the foundation for the national unity of Northern Song Dynasty.On the other hand,the changes of the laws and regulations had a great impact on the corresponding system of Song Dynasty.For example,the privy council mechanism had advanced;the powers of military affairs commissioners had been strengthened;the financial system with the right as the core had been built in Five Dynasties.Also,Northern Song Dynasty inherited the imperial examination system,judicial system and military system of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.Secondly,Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms experienced tremendous changes in socioeconomic field.A new economic framework has been formed which show new characteristics of economic development.This kind of changes mainly manifested in further advancement of commodity economy,great changes in regional economies,new characteristics of business and trade,and southward moving of economic center of ancient China.All of the above proved that Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms played a key role in economy to serve as link between past and future.Thirdly,in Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms,substantial changes have occurred in the field of culture.Culture and art showed unprecedented trends,especially in the field of literature,painting,calligraphy,Buddhism and so on.The Ci has enhanced and reached a considerable status;the traditional flower-and-bird painting and the traditional landscape painting have replaced the Buddhism and Taoism figure painting to a certain extent,providing the aesthetic orientation to calligraphy of Song dynasty.Respecting Buddhism,the five sects of Dhyana has exerted noticeable influence over the formation of Zen thoughts and Neo-Confucianism.Meanwhile,in the field of Buddhism,further development of regional culture in Jianghuai,wide sichuan,Fujian,Guangdong and other regions had profound influence on later culture.Fourthly,this thesis has explored the characteristics of times and social changes of this duration,from the altering social inner structure including imperial class,official class,peasant class,merchant class and the rising public class,indicating Chinese social structure has ever changed dramatically in this historical age.In a word,dramatic changes have occurred in the fields of social structure,views and values,socio-economy and laws and regulations in Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.This thesis presenting the distinct characteristics of the times through comparing with other feudal lords' era based on discussion of changes.Finally,it should have evaluated the historical status of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms objectively in Chinese history.