On the ‘Meishan Phenomenon’ in Song culture

Abstract

The Song Dynasty enjoyed a splendid culture. Meishan, a small county in Southwest Sichuan, was one of the most developed cultural areas. This is closely related to a large-scale immigration after the collapse of the Tang Dynasty and the Jingkang defeat  in the Song Dynasty. Meishan was an area receiving more immigrants than other regions. A great number of distinguished families from North China brought with them the advanced culture of the Yellow River areas to Meishan, which combined with native culture, and produced many cultural clans  from this clan culture.  Some of these people became elites in various areas through education and the Civil Service Examinations. The so-called Meishan Phenomenon  was a result of cultural melting.