A Review of Emperor Shizong of Jin Dynasty and the Dading Governance

Abstract

The Dading Governance (大定之治) represents a pivotal era of sustained prosperity and political consolidation under Emperor Shizong of the Jin Dynasty (1161-1189). Current scholarship predominantly clusters around three analytical axes: (1) comprehensive examinations of the emperor's personal attributes and his historical milieu, (2) discrete investigations into pivotal events and sociopolitical phenomena during the Dading reign, and (3) critical evaluations of institutional reforms through governance paradigms, particularly their ideological underpinnings and societal ramifications. Through systematic historiographical analysis, this study elucidates the Dading Governance's dual significance as both a defining juncture in Jurchen statecraft evolution and a transformative phase in China's medieval political ecology. Furthermore, it underscores the need for cross-cultural comparisons with other Northern dynasties' administrative models, thereby enriching our understanding of non-Han regimes' governance strategies in premodern China.