Southern Song - (1129 - 1279)

The Southern Song period established its capital at Hangzhou, southwest of modern day Shanghai. While, at first, a temporary location, this site grew to become a huge metropolis by the early 1200s with a population estimated at over 1.1 million. Fresh water flowed from the West Lake through many canals within the city to carry refuse out the east side to the Qiantang River estuary.

Foreign trade feuled the growth of the Southern Song more than any other period in China until the 19th centruy. Demand for luxuries from the court especially spices from the Spice Route from the East Indies. The export of of silks, porcelains and copper cash were not enough to cover the trade imbalance -such was the voracious appetite of the Song court for luxuries. One effect of this growth in foreign trade was the heavy reliance on paper money and negotiable instruments. This, along with the use of coal was another thing that amazed Marco Polo.

Southern Song ceramic wares of note were the brown glazed 'hare's fur" glaze, Guan ware, stoneware with a crackled bluish-green celadon glaze, and delicately potted QingBai (bluish-white) ware which is some of the most lush and beautifully made porcelain yet made. The term YingQing was later coined, perhaps by Chinese dealers to describe its shadowy-blue tint.

The long period of tranquility and prosperity in the Song Dynasty was about to come to an end in 1210 with the attack of the buffer state of Jin from the north by the Mongols led by Genghis Khan.

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