The Research Of Families’ Book Collection In Song Dynasty

Book Collection as a part of family’ property is an important legacy that their ancestors left.The collection have a special meaning for aristocratic families and small or medium-sizedfamily in the Song Dynasty when Imperial Examination is very developed.This articlediscusses the role that the family book collection played for aristocratic families and smalland medium-sized family in this imperial era. The article is divided into three parts:The first part discusses the collection mentality of Song people. Mainly purpose forcollection is study for official position and as the possessions left behind. In Song Dynastymany people see reading as the way to official, reading can be the most effective way toimprove their social status. The nobles who want to maintain the status of aristocrat had toadapt to the new election way by using the already powerful forces to strengthen the culturalaspects; Shuzu also take full advantage of the opportunity given by the era, make every effortto get the official position striving to improve their position. Having recognized theconnection between reading and the imperial examination, the original collection family paysmore attention to the book collection; new family also joined the army of collection. Thecollection as a special family property left for later generations have become the consensus inSong Dynasty.In the second part there are four chapters. The first three chapters introduce the generalsituation and characteristics of the collection in aristocratic families, ordinary official’sfamilies and ordinary families. Family is the main body in collection, from large aristocraticfamilies, to small and ordinary people, as long as they have capacity they would make theireffort for improving the collection. First of all, collections are an important means in culturalcompetition, or all-round competition for the aristocratic families. Aristocratic families inSong Dynasty have basically lost their monopoly political and culture privileges. In order tomaintain the family’ official advantages and social status, it’s necessary to make use of theimperial examination, which is a very important channel entering officialdom. For academicfamily, the books are the basis of their academic research. Academic family’s tremendousachievements in terms of literature, history, classical studies, etc. have great connection with their collections. Collection is an importance medium for academic family passes their FamilyLearning. Ordinary officials’ and ordinary people’ collection is also provide a relativelyfavorable reading environment for family members helping them gets achievement in theimperial examination. Chapter four describes that besides collection, families who haveability can engrave a number of books. Including family predecessors’ writings, famous booksor experience related to the imperial examination. Family Engraving and collection togetheras part of the family property left for children and grandchildren.The third part is on the basis of the second part. Investigate the role that book collectionplayed in Song society. First, book collection made a place development in academic andculture. A place where collection flourished also have well-developed culture. These placeshad training a large number of intellectuals for Song Dynasty. Second, collection played animportant role in the aristocratic families’ generation、flourished and continued. In the SongDynasty many aristocratic families is generated in such a way: using examination system asthe ladder, family members entered into the state, then the descendants continue to enteredinto the state through the imperial examination. During this period, the book collection playedan important role in family education. The model of “book collection-reading–entering thestate” provides the middle and small landlords and other middle and lower class a chance ofentering the country’s bureaucratic system.