Northern Song Court

Timeline

1. 1101–1102Chuihong Hall, Bianjing — Secretariat · KaifengIn the early years of Huizong's reign, the court, driven by Zeng Bu, Cai Jing, and others, adjusted the policies of the old Yuanyou faction; in the first year of Chongning, the faction stele was redefined, and central power concentrated in the New Party, providing political conditions for subsequent large-scale cultural projects and fiscal expansion.
2. 1103–1107Xuanhe Hall, Bianjing — Secretariat Library · KaifengThe court established academies of calligraphy and painting, expanded the inner court's collections of calligraphy and paintings, and used imperial artistic standards to guide literati aesthetics; major decisions such as the jiaozi reform and the procurement of flower-and-stone convoys were also issued from the central administration of this period.
3. 1108–1110Bureau of Military Affairs and Ministry of Rites, Bianjing · KaifengDuring the Zhenghe era the court conducted secret envoys to the Jin dynasty and planned a joint military attack on Liao; the Bureau of Military Affairs and the Chancellery coordinated border defense and diplomacy; giant projects such as Genyue and increased paper money issuance tightened finances, putting the Northern Song court's organizational effectiveness to a deep test.