The Second Phase: The Song Variant

This chapter introduces the second phase of the Imperial Mode, namely the Song variant. During the Tang-Song transitionTang-Song transition, the peasant economypeasantry economy became entrenched and sustainable as peasantspeasants’ private ownershipprivate ownership of land was lawfully protected and collateral mechanisms emerged. The state examination systemstate examination system was introduced to control the bureaucratic system and forbid the monopoly of aristocratic families. Relations within the Imperial Mode became stable and smooth. Simultaneously, the “second economic revolutionsecond economic revolution” contributed to huge economic prosperity in the Song dynasty. Technological innovations, marketisationmarketisation and commercialisationcommercialisation developed fast so that the economic baseeconomic base appeared proto-industrialised and commercialised. The Song variant is the mature type of the Imperial Mode. However, the superstructuresuperstructure became less resilient as Ming-Qing China strengthened the imperial system and rejected institutional changes that would accommodate new economic elements. In the Song variant, the Imperial Mode had its heyday but became inadaptable at its later stage.