The Historical Map of Dali in the Jin and Southern Song Dynasties
Map Introduction
I. Political Landscape: A Delicate Balance with the Song and Jin
The Dali Kingdom (937–1254), a Bai polity in Southwest China, formed a tripartite balance of power with the Southern Song (1127–1279) and the Jin (1115–1234). Its political relationships exhibited the following characteristics:
Complex Interactions with the Southern Song: Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyi, established the border by "marking the Dadu River with a jade axe," creating a situation where "lands south of the river belonged to Dali, and north to the Great Song." The Dali Kingdom repeatedly initiated tributary missions, but the Southern Song, wary of the historical precedent set by Nanzhao and pressured by the Jin in the north, consistently refused formal investiture. The two sides maintained a trade relationship centered on "horses for tea"; in 1106 alone, over 5,000 warhorses were traded just at Lizhou.
Indirect Response to the Jin: After the rise of the Jin Dynasty, the Southern Song joined the Jin-led tributary system. Dali, meanwhile, created a strategic buffer by maintaining economic ties with the Southern Song (e.g., supplying Yunnan horses, copper, and iron resources). In the late Southern Song, Dali was even regarded as a "semi-ally" against the Mongol threat.
Internal Power Structure: The Gao clan long monopolized the position of chancellor. In 1094, Gao Shengtai briefly usurped the throne, establishing the "Great Zhonghe" kingdom, but restored the Duan clan two years later, forming a co-governance model where "the Duan were the sovereigns, and the Gao were the chancellors." Persian merchants entering Dali were required to first pay respects to the Gao "State Lord" before being received by the Duan king.
II. Socio-Economy: A Model of Prosperity in the Southwest
Agriculture and Commerce: Duan Siping's policies reducing taxes and levies made the Erhai Lake basin a major grain-producing area. As a hub on the Southern Silk Road, Dali frequently traded with Tibet and Southeast Asia, with merchant caravans constantly traversing its routes. Records from the Court of the Imperial Treasury during the Yuanfeng era noted Dali's annual income of a million strings of copper cash through the Maritime Trade Supervisorate.
Handicraft Specialties: Metalworking, exemplified by the "Dali knife," was renowned far and wide, its forging techniques spreading to the Central Plains via the Tea-Horse Road. Buddhist statue art reached its peak; the Painting Scroll of Zhang Shengwen, housed in the Taipei National Palace Museum, is hailed as a "Treasure of the Southern Heavens."
Monetary System: Influenced by the Song, Dali used copper coins but retained the tradition of cowrie shells. Archaeological finds at Dali sites show "Xingbao Tongbao" coins coexisting with Northern Song "Xining Zhongbao" coins.
III. Cultural Blending: A Civilizational Hub Coexisting with Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism
State Adoption of Buddhism: Eight of the 22 Dali monarchs became Buddhist monks. The architectural complex of the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple survives to this day. The Azhali sect, blending Esoteric Buddhism with Bai shamanism, created the distinctive "Kingdom of Fragrant Incense."
Spread of Han Chinese Culture: After ascending the throne in 1096, Duan Zhengyan (the prototype for the fictional Duan Yu) implemented the imperial examination system and appointed Han Confucian scholars as officials. Official documents used written Chinese characters but retained Bai phonetic characteristics, forming a unique "Baiwen" system.
Artistic Achievements: Influenced by Dunhuang, its grotto art is exemplified by the diverse cultural fusion seen in the Mingwangtang statue group in Cave 6 of the Shizhongshan Grottoes in Jianchuan. Court music absorbed elements from Tang and Song banquet music, leaving a legacy in the "Nanzhao Fengsheng Music."
IV. Key Events and Figures
Founding by Duan Siping (937): He allied with the Thirty-Seven Tribes to overthrow Yang Ganzhen, establishing the Dali Kingdom and implementing a "three-year corvée exemption" policy. His enfeeffment system laid the foundation for co-governance by the nobility.
Period of Gao Clan Dominance (1094–1253): Gao Liangcheng, grandson of Gao Shengtai, compiled the State History and established a dual-track system. During his rule, Dali's trade volume with the Southern Song peaked.
Destruction by Three Mongol Campaigns (1253–1254): Kublai Khan adopted a strategy, attacking Dali via three routes. The captured Duan Xingzhi was enfeoffed as Hereditary Administrator, formally incorporating Yunnan into the Yuan Empire.
V. Historical Evaluation and Legacy
Geopolitical Significance: As a buffer zone, it maintained the Song-Mongol strategic balance; its fall directly exposed the Southern Song heartland. The Yuan established the Yunnan Branch Secretariat, continuing aspects of Dali's governance system.
Paragon of Cultural Fusion: Bai traditions like "three-bay-one-screen-wall" architecture and the Raosanling Festival persist today. In 2015, the Old Town of Dali was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
Economic Model Legacy: The "Tea-Horse Mutual Trade" system provided a model for later governance in the southwestern frontier; the Ming-era Mu chieftains of Lijiang continued its trade network.
The 317-year history of the Dali Kingdom demonstrates that within the complex landscape of Song-Jin confrontation, Southwest China, through flexible diplomacy and endogenous development, created a distinctive regional civilization. Its trajectory was shaped by the power struggles of larger empires but also highlights the governance wisdom of ethnic minority regimes.