What is the reason why later generations feel that there are hundreds of years between the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, and even as if they are separated from each other?Let's not rush to deny it yet. There must be quite a few people who feel this way. In fact, from the fall of the Tang Dynasty to the establishment of the Song Dynasty, how many years have elapsed?53 years. The Tang Dynasty lasted from 618 to 907, and the Northern and Southern Song dynasties from 960 to 1127.
So why does it feel like it's a long time?First, it is easy to misunderstand the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Because there are five dynasties and ten countries in five dynasties and ten countries, it must have gone through a long time, even hundreds of years. That's why people have the illusion that "there was a gap of hundreds of years between the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty".
In fact, five dynasties and ten kingdoms are not equal to five dynasties plus ten countries. The Five Dynasties are the five dynasties that had their capitals in the Central Plains during this period, namely the Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han and Later Zhou. The Ten Kingdoms were Former Shu, Later Shu, Southern Wu, Southern Tang, Wu Yue, Min, Southern Chu, Southern Han, Nanping, and Northern Han. Many of these countries exist at the same time, and they don't have a long time to enjoy a corner of the country. But the name Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms is quite domineering.
If you were born in the north at the end of the Tang Dynasty and you persevered until you were in your 60s, you would have arrived in the Song Dynasty. Let's take another example: when Liu Bang was born, what era and nationality was China?Liu Bang was born in the state of Chu at the end of the Warring States period and was a native of Pei County. He was only three years younger than Qin Shi Huang. But many people feel that Liu Bang and Qin Shi Huang are not the same era. In fact, the Qin Dynasty only lasted for 14 years. In addition, from the fall of the Qin Dynasty to the establishment of the Western Han Dynasty, there was only a total of 19 years in between. Ying Zheng was born in 259 BC and became King of Qin at the age of 13. Liu Bang was born in 256 BC and was forced to raise an army at the age of 47. Since there are so many historical events that have happened in a short period of time, everyone feels that the time is long.
Second, the difference in the personalities of the two dynasties of the Tang and Song dynasties is too great. The reason why the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty feel that they were hundreds of years apart is that their temperaments were completely different. A dynasty has the temperament of a dynasty. The Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties all have their own characteristics. For example, Lieshang, Lizhou, Tyrannical Qin, Qianghan, Shijin, Xiongsui, Shengtang, Fusong, Manyuan, and Gangming. Speaking of the Tang Dynasty, what everyone thinks of is the prosperous Tang Dynasty where all countries come to the dynasty, self-confidence and openness, and magnificence. In film and television dramas, it is often known for being colorful, wild and heroic. When it comes to the Song Dynasty, what can be thought of is that it is heavy on literature and light on martial arts, weak and rich, gentle and elegant, soft and introverted.