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The Northern
Song Dynasty (960-1127) Over 300 years of Song history
is divided into the two periods of Northern and Southern Song. Because
of the barbarian occupation of northern China the second half of
the Song rule was confined to the area south of the Huai River.
Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). General Zhao Kuangyin, later known
as Song Taizu, was said to have been coerced to become emperor by
his subordination in order to unify China. Wary of power-hungry
commanders, Sung Taizu made the military into a national army under
his direct control. Under his less capable successors, however,
the military increasingly lost prestige. Unfortunately for China,
the weakening of the military coincided with the rise of successive
strong nomad nations on the borders. In contrast to the military's
loss of prestige, the civil service rose in dignity. The examination
system that had been restored in the Sui and Tang was further elaborated
and regularized. Selection examinations were held every three years
at the district, provincial, and metropolitan levels. Only 200 out
of thousands of applicants were granted the jinshi degree, the highest
degree, and appointed to government posts. From this time on, civil
servants became China's most envied elite, replacing the hereditary
nobles and landlords. I am the owner of this web site. I am the
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