The Rise of Jiangnan: How Southern Song Dynasty Migration Transformed China's Economy and Culture

Along with the Southern Song Dynasty's migration southward, a large number of people from central China also moved south. At that time, "people from all directions gathered in Zhejiang and Jiangsu, surpassing the usual population by a hundredfold." The excessive population pressure once again accelerated the reclamation and cultivation of the Jiangnan region, and the emperor himself began to personally engage in agriculture to encourage farming. The continued development of population and economy led to the complete surpassing of northern China by the Jiangnan region in terms of economy and culture. Ancient people lamented the reversal of the north and south situation in the following way: "In the south, there are many scholars, walking side by side, while in the north, visitors wither, and the morning stars face each other... Most of the high-ranking officials and generals are from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Sichuan." (from Volume 3142 of the "Yongle Dadian" and Chen Liang's "First Book to Emperor Xiaozong of the Song Dynasty") Hangzhou has leaped to become the most prosperous city in China, with a dense population and bustling carriages. The proverb "Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below" from the Song Dynasty's "Wujun Records" has allowed Hangzhou to surpass other cities and become the "ideal country" in the minds of Chinese literati.