Song dynasty: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Although weakened and pushed south beyond the [[Huai River]], the '''Southern Song'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> found new ways to bolster its strong economy and defend itself against the Jin dynasty. It had able military officers such as [[Yue Fei]] and [[Han Shizhong]]. The government sponsored massive [[shipbuilding]] and [[harbor]] improvement projects, and the construction of [[beacon]]s and seaport [[warehouse]]s to support maritime trade abroad, including at the major international [[seaport]]s, such as [[Quanzhou]], [[Guangzhou]], and [[Xiamen]], that were sustaining China's commerce.{{sfn|Wang|2000|p=14}}{{sfn|Sivin|1995|p=5}}{{sfn|Paludan|1998|p=136}}

To protect and support the multitude of ships sailing for maritime interests into the waters of the [[East China Sea]] and [[Yellow Sea]] (to [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]), [[Southeast Asia]], the [[Indian Ocean]], and the [[Red Sea]], it was necessary to establish an official standing [[navy]].{{sfn|Shen|1996|pp=159–161}} The Song dynasty therefore established China's first permanent navy in 1132,{{sfn|Paludan|1998|p=136}} with a headquarters at [[Dinghai]].{{sfn|Needham|1986d|p=476}} With a permanent navy, the Song were prepared to face the naval forces of the Jin on the Yangtze River in 1161, in the [[Battle of Tangdao]] and the [[Battle of Caishi]]. During these battles the Song navy employed swift [[Paddle wheel ship#East Asia|paddle wheel driven]] naval vessels armed with [[trebuchet|traction trebuchet catapults]] aboard the decks that launched gunpowder [[bomb]]s.{{sfn|Needham|1986d|p=476}} Although the Jin forces commanded by [[Wanyan Liang|Wanyan Liang]] (the Prince of Hailing)]] boasted 70,000 men on 600 warships, and the Song forces only 3,000 men on 120 warships,{{sfn|Levathes|1994|pp=43–47}} the Song dynasty forces were victorious in both battles due to the destructive power of the bombs and the rapid assaults by [[Qianli chuan|paddlewheel ships]].{{sfn|Needham|1986a|p=134}} The strength of the navy was heavily emphasized following these victories. A century after the navy was founded it had grown in size to 52,000 fighting marines.{{sfn|Needham|1986d|p=476}}

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