Different Views on the Political Geography of the Empire in the 11th Century: Debates over Military Affairs between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang Chang Woei Ong

Different Views on the Political Geography of the Empire in the 11th Century: Debates over Military Affairs between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang Chang Woei Ong The National University of Singapore “Emphasize the civil, de‐emphasize the military” (zhongwen qingwu重文輕武) has almost become a set phrase used to explain why the Song was not the powerful Han or Tang. According to a popular perception, the Song founders, after witnessing how the loss of control over the military had cost the rulers of the Five Dynasties their empires, became wary of the possibility of themselves falling prey to the recurring problem. As such, immediately after Emperor Taizu (太祖, r. 960‐975) ascended to the throne, he “disarmed” his generals during the dramatic episode of “removing military command over a cup of wine” (beijiu shi bingquan杯酒 釋兵權). Following this, Emperor Taizu and his successor Emperor Taizong (太宗, 976‐997) put together a series of measures aimed at minimizing the threat of the military. From then onwards, monarchs and civil officials began to engage in conspiracies to suppress the military men and the court adopted an indifferent attitude toward military affairs. This approach resulted in the weakening of the armies and caused the eventual downfall of the dynasty.