Hangzhou’s Overseas Trade During The Song Dynasty

Song Dynasty is the most prosperous period of China’s overseas trade that each of the trade port which was along the China’s South-East coastal areas had been developed vigorously. It was at a sudden that seemed like ships came from all over the world clustered in these ports and competed each other. Hangzhou was one of the most shining pearl.The opening of the Grand Canal in Sui and Tang Dynasty has brought endless prosperity and charm. In Tang Dynasty, Hangzhou had been the important port of overseas trade. By running hardly by Wu Yue Kingdom three generations of five kings, Hangzhou become the first state if the beautiful scenery of southeast. In the southern Song Dynasty, the development of Hangzhou reached its peak. At that time, Hangzhou gathered all glory of political center and business leader. All the rich gathered on its ground.Hangzhou can’t develop so fast without the superior natural conditions. Standing in the Taihu Lake Basin as well as the junction of the Qiantang River, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Zhedong Canal, Hangzhou enjoyed the convenient shipping conditions.The prosperity of overseas trade of Hangzhou was benefited by the energetic support from the government of Song Dynasty who set up the Shibo Department of Liangzhe Province, the Shibo Department of Hangzhou(Linan), the Shinbo Department of Ganpu successively to manage the overseas trade. Make a general survey of the history of Song Dynasty, it was unique to set up three level trade institution in one city. The function of Shibo Department was the original model of the modern customs, which was responsible for managing trade among countries, receiving merchandisers from home and abroad and collecting tariffs.Rich and prosperous economy supported ample resources for the overseas trade of Hangzhou. Hangzhou located in the Jiangnan area which with developed economy and is contiguous to Suzhou, Changzhou, Shaoxin, Ningbo, Huzhou, Huizhou, Quanzhou which are the important commercial towns, is the trade center of gathering businessmen and commodities.Hangzhou has a great name of " Silk City", which created the most precious " Maritime Silk Road" in the traffic history. The Japanese monk who traveled far away brought the tea of Jingshan and exquisite books to Japan. Although the folk don’t have chance to see porcelain of the official kilns in the Southern Song Dynasty, the porcelain which gathered from Yuezhou, Longquan and Jingdezhen placed in the spacious cabins neatly, become the treasure for all countries to compete for. Envoy and merchandisers from all over the world, who come to Hangzhou can’t hold their wonders to praise this most magnificent "paradise".The conditions which have frequently trade with Hangzhou concentrated in the East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and some parts of Arab. Compared with other port cities, although Hangzhou has the most developed economy, its northerly harbor position stuck it in the Hangzhou Bay, hence, the overseas trade has waxed and waned. But Hangzhou is still the charming city on the " Maritime Silk Road".