Behind the Form: A Historical Analysis on the Quannong System of the Song Dynasty

With the political-culture analyzing method, this paper discusses the origin, contents and functions of the (persuading the peasants to develop agriculture) system of the Song Dynasty, which originated from the pre-Qin period (221-207 BC). The main contents of this system in its early stage is that in the early spring days the king symbolically ploughed a piece of land near the suburbs of his capital, in order to send to his subjects a clear message of the importance he attached to agriculture. It was expected that peasants would be encouraged by his majesty's guidance, and thus agricultural production of the country would be promoted. With the rationalization of political system since the Qin period, gradually became a routine work of the Chinese governments at different levels. Under the Northern Song Dynasty (960—1127), Quannong (envoy) was added to the official rank of heads of counties and prefectures. They each were required to take the (responsibility) to persuade peasants in his jurisdiction to work harder in the field. The actual work as a (“Quannong) envoy in the Song period was to go to the countryside to reward peasants with food and wine in early February, and to write an essay, Wen, to express his encouragement, and to distribute it to the peasants. Formalistic as it is, the system is a typical manifestation of the traditional Chinese (political) culture. As one of its social impacts on the Song society, it helped the spread of advanced agricultural technology with its institutional basis.