The Age of Bureaucracy When the Sung came into power in China in 960A.D. after an army mutiny, it was evident that if this government had sufficient time, they could change all details of Chinese life. The Sung gave way for future empires that continued its path, until 1850, when events led up to the Taiping Rebellion. These men in government were scholar- officials, and beginning with equalization in government and spreading to other aspects of society, they led Chinas culture to move together. The arts flourished throughout these times and they reflect directly how the rest of Chinas culture was developing. The literature of early Sung times reflects the fact that with scholars in the government, work and activities of scholars were widely practiced. There was an abundance of writing and enough printing available to distribute literature. Ceramics' techniques had been mastered, and the west yearned for the porcelain ware China was producing. The literature and arts were quality, but also expressed simply. Economy was changing into an almost modern state. Landholders had enough money to invest in other urbanizing things as well as supporting the arts. The social changes coincided with the other changes happening. Farmers and more of the lower standing population could afford to school their eldest boy, increasing the educated, as well as the literate. Painting became so prevalent and a part of daily life for a scholar that two separate schools were founded. Northern and Southern Sung were two different ways to approach learning and painting. Very serious students emerged from these schools to produce important pieces. When the Northern invasions shifted the power, the change among society remained small. In Liao times, the government was not concerned with scholars or their literature. The development was not hindered and writing continued to be produced. The conservative thought of the government did filter out so...
