On the Over-Centralization and Its Effect in the Northern Song Dynasty

Since the founding of Song Dynasty,the ruler draw a historical lesson from the middle-late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties,and strengthened the centralized state power.This measure was justified,reasonable and positive.However,this act which reached the degree of overcorrect could not stopped,so it appeared an obvious,over-centralized state power.The conspicuous manifestation is that ministers could not take charge of the whole locality;military power was confused;management lacked unity and coherence;the relation of subordination was loosely organized;the local government lacked necessary administrative power.This type of centralized power had consolidated in the Song Dynasty,especially after Song-Liao negotiation.This should be put right,but the ruler could not amend the national policy according to the changed situation.On the contrary,the ruler strengthened it in most aspects of national policy.This over-centralized management caused serious social evil.Moreover,that caused a harmful effect on the later generation's social and political development.So Song had a deep recognition of it.