The political structure of ancient China was often centered on the north and periphery in the south. Most of the regimes in the north are able to unify the world, while the regimes in the south are mostly in a corner of the country and can hardly pose a threat to the north. Why is that? To answer this question, we need to analyze from the following aspects:
Differences in economic development
The economic development of ancient China mainly relied on agriculture and handicrafts. The geographical environment of the north is suitable for growing winter crops such as wheat and sorghum, as well as raising cattle and sheep and other animal husbandry. The geographical environment of the south is suitable for growing summer crops such as rice and cotton, as well as raising poultry such as pigs and chickens. Agriculture and handicrafts in the north are inferior in yield and quality to those in the south due to climate and soil constraints. Agriculture and handicrafts in the South are higher in both yield and quality than in the North, as a result of water conservancy and technology. Therefore, the economic development of the South is generally ahead of that of the North.
However, the difference in economic development does not mean that the regime in the South will be able to dominate the North by virtue of its economic advantages. On the contrary, regimes in the South often attract covetousness and aggression from the North because of their economic advantages. In order to obtain the wealth and resources of the South, the regime in the North did not hesitate to use military force to conquer and plunder the South. The regime in the South, in order to protect its economic interests, had to adopt a strategy of defense and compromise, resisting and making concessions to the North. Therefore, the difference in economic development has become one of the reasons why the southern regime is in a safe corner.
Differences in military strength
The military strength of ancient China mainly relied on infantry and cavalry. The geography of the north is suitable for cultivating strong cavalry, as well as the infantry that goes with it. The geography of the south is suitable for cultivating a flexible naval army, as well as the infantry to cooperate with it. The cavalry of the north, due to its advantages of high speed, long range, and assault, was able to exert strong combat effectiveness on the plains and steppes. The naval forces in the south, because of their advantages of flexibility, concealment, and defense, were able to exert strong combat effectiveness on rivers and lakes. Therefore, the military strength of the South is generally weaker than that of the North.
However, the difference in military strength does not mean that the regime in the South will be able to rely on its military disadvantage to resist the North. On the contrary, regimes in the South are often reluctantly passive and predicamentous because of their military inferiority. In order to expand its territory and power, the regime in the north did not hesitate to use military force to attack and oppress the south. In order to defend their territory and power, the regime in the south had to adopt a strategy of defense and peace, and to resist and compromise with the north. Therefore, the difference in military strength has become one of the reasons why the southern regime is in a peaceful corner.
Differences in cultural identity
The cultural identity of ancient China mainly relied on the Central Plains culture and the frontier culture. The geographical environment of the north is suitable for the formation of the Central Plains culture and the border culture that is connected with it. The geographical environment of the south is suitable for the formation of the frontier culture, as well as the culture of the Central Plains separated from it. The Central Plains culture, due to its historical inheritance and authoritative recognition, can exert a strong influence on the Central Plains and the frontier. Frontier culture, due to its diverse characteristics and independent innovation, can exert a strong attraction in the frontier and the Central Plains. Therefore, the cultural identity of the South is generally more complex than that of the North.
However, differences in cultural identity do not mean that regimes in the South will be able to compete with the North with cultural diversity. On the contrary, regimes in the South often lead to internal conflicts and contradictions because of cultural diversity. In order to maintain its own cultural unity and superiority, the regime in the north did not hesitate to use its cultural power to assimilate and exclude the south. The regimes of the South, in order to maintain their cultural diversity and independence, had to adopt a strategy of integration and resistance, borrowing and differentiating from the North. Therefore, the difference in cultural identity has become one of the reasons for the peaceful corner of the southern regime.
To sum up, the reason why the southern regime in ancient China was prone to a corner of peace was because of the differences in economic development, military strength, cultural identity and other aspects, which led to the imbalance and confrontation between the southern and northern regimes. Although the southern regime has advantages and characteristics in some aspects, it is difficult for it to form an effective threat and challenge to the northern regime. The southern regime can only maintain relative stability and development in a corner of the south.