The Study On The Princes System Of The Song Dynasty

Princes attached to the imperial powe，they were closely associated with theempire. They were a very special social group and had a very distinguished identity.Not like princes of Tang Dynasty,they were not closely linked up with politics. Asthe direct source of the crown prince, the prince’s quality decides the fate of thecountry.Princes survival time focused on the northern song dynasty, the adoptedprinces were concentrated in the southern Song Dynasty. Due to the crown ceremonydecline，most of princes had not completed crown ceremony. Princes had superiortreatment of economy. The princes’ salary was higher than the general officials’.Furthermore,there were other economic source.The emperor paid more attention to the education of princes.The set up a lotof professional school education institutions from where the prince learnt culturalknowledge to cultivate prince.The selection of the princes’ teachers had a certainstandard. In addition to learning cultural knowledge,the princes had to learn martialarts. Family education was an important part of the education of princes as well.Although the princes had been granted generous political offices, but theywere not allowed to participate in political affairs. However,no matter whether theywere willing to political affairs, they still participated in political affair throughvarious ways, because they were closely connected with the politic.Because the emperors often had no sons, they gradually establised thesystem of imperial heir adopted son. In the northern Song dynasty and the early stageof the southern Song Dynasty, this system had played a positive role of maintainingthe social order. But until the period of Song Guangzong, due to the politicalcorruption, the system of imperial heir adopted sons was gradually becoming the toolof the Bad kings and ministers which maintained their own interests.