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The Song Dynasty(960 - 1279)

An imperial dynasty that succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty (1271 A.D.-1368 A.D.).

The Song Dynasty is divided into two distinct periods: the Northern Song (960 A.D. -1126 A.D) and the Southern Song (1127 A.D.-1279   A.D.).

In 960 A.D., Zhao Kuangyin(927 A.D.-976 A.D.),who held the military leadership of the Later Zhou Dynasty (951 A.D.-960 A.D.),led a mutiny in Chenqiao (in the northeast of today's Kaifeng, Henan Province ), which resulted in the emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty being displaced by Zhao Kuangyin.

After Zhao Kuangyin declared himself emperor, he changed the name of the dynasty to Song, made Kaifeng (in today's Henan Province) its capital, and became known as the Northern Song Dynasty in history.

The downfall of the Northern Song Dynasty came when the troops of Jin (1115 A.D.-1234   A.D.), a dynasty to the northeast of the Song, captured the Song capital Kaifeng in 1126   A.D.

In 1127 A.D., Zhao Gou proclaimed himself emperor in Nanjing (in today's Shangqiu, Henan Province) and afterwards, made Lin'an (today's Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province) its capital. It is called the Southern Song Dynasty   in history.

In 1279 A.D., the Southern Song Dynasty was destroyed and replaced by the Yuan Dynasty (1279 A.D.-1368   A.D.).
There were 18 emperors in the Song Dynasty and it lasted for 230 years.

It was the first government in world history to nationally issue banknotes or true paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a permanent standing navy. This dynasty also saw the first known use of gunpowder, as well as first discernment of the true North by using a compass.
During the Song Dynasty, national amalgamation and the commodity economy were developed on an unprecedented scale, culture and the arts were developed quickly, it was a golden time in Chinese history.