Battlefields of the Southern Song

The Southern Song Battlefield is a concise military history of the Southern Song dynasty.

The book has several distinctive features. First, it upholds the idea that “history is more than the story of a single participant,” placing the Southern Song's military history within the broader context of the Mongol conquest of the world. It reveals the immense hardships endured by the Southern Song people in their resistance against the Jin and the Mongols, and challenges the traditional view of the Southern Song as a weak, submissive dynasty that clung to its corner of the realm and pursued a policy of surrender. Second, it follows the principle of “learning from history,” examining in depth the reasons for the Mongols' victories and the lessons behind the destruction of the Southern Song, Jin, and Western Xia dynasties in war. Third, it upholds the idea that “history lies in the details,” giving detailed accounts of key and representative battles such as Shunchang, Dean, Yehuling, Qizhou, Sanfeng Mountain, Caizhou, Diaoyu City, and Xiangyang. It also covers tactics used in field battles, formations, cavalry and infantry combat, naval warfare, and sieges, giving readers an overall understanding of the military successes and failures of the Song, Mongol, Jin, and Xia forces while immersing them in the details of the fighting. Fourth, it embraces the traditional historical approach of “putting people at the center,” offering in-depth profiles and evaluations of major figures such as Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, Emperor Aizong of Jin, Emperor Lizong of Song, Han Tuozhou, Shi Miyuan, Muqali, Li Quan, Shi Songzhi, Meng Gong, Aju, Bayan, Liu Zheng, and Lü Wenhuan.

This book is suitable for the general public, students, and history and military enthusiasts.