u/rws_princeofxindino

Early Ming's style of dragon robe uniform, in Putuo Village

For the chart file, please visit my DeviantArt (English and Chinese versions), and please support me on Patreon.

This is my first Song dynasty-related chart, which introduces five princely peerages of the dynasty.

The Song dynasty largely inherited the princely title creation system of the Tang dynasty. Most members of the imperial clan were granted princely titles, which were divided into three ranks: Imperial Prince/Prince of Blood (Wang; 王), Lineal Prince (Si Wang; 嗣王, lit. means "heir, succession"), and Commandery Prince/Prince of Commandery (Junwang; 郡王). These titles generally lapsed upon the holder’s death and were not hereditary. Only a few exceptions existed, notably the Prince of Anding Commandery (安定郡王)—who was responsible for the ancestral rites of Emperor Taizu—and the four Lineal Princes of Pu (嗣濮王; responsible for Emperor Yingzong's biological father), Xiu (嗣秀王; responsible for Emperor Xiaozong biological father), Rong (嗣荣王; responsible for Emperor Lizong biological father), and Yi (嗣沂王; responsible for Emperor Xiaozong's second son), whose titles were transmitted by collateral succession/agnatic seniority (i.e., from elder brother to younger brother).

Creation of non-imperial meritorious officials as princes was relatively rare, whereas the ennoblement of imperial affines was excessive. It was customary to posthumously confer princely titles upon the ancestors (up to three or five generations) of an empress or empress dowager, and their fathers, brothers, sons, and nephews often benefited from such imperial favor.

Lineal princely titles in the Song dynasty were not inherited by the eldest legitimate son. Instead, succession proceeded laterally within the same generation among the descendants of a designated progenitor, typically from elder to younger, until that generation was exhausted; only then would succession pass to the next generation. In the absence of a special imperial decree, princely titles were not hereditary. Even imperial sons were not granted hereditary succession unless no sons of the emperor remained alive. Princes of the blood generally began with lower noble titles such as Duke of State (Guogong; 国公) and were gradually promoted step by step to higher princely ranks, while princely titles themselves could be elevated from smaller to larger fiefs.

In the case of Lineal Princes, upon the death of a titleholder, the candidate for succession was reported to the emperor by the Imperial Clan Court (Zongzheng Si; 宗正寺), usually restricted within the five degrees of mourning kinship. The heads of the Court and its affiliated offices would select suitable candidates, subject to final imperial approval. As long as collateral agnates of the same generation remained alive, succession would not pass to direct descendants.

For members of the imperial clan in the Song dynasty, material benefits and privileges were primarily determined by official rank rather than by noble title. This differed from later periods, such as the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty, where titles were more directly tied to emoluments. In the Song system, princely titles mainly signified status and were typically conferred in accordance with promotion in the military office ranking system.

For the chart file, please go to my DeviantArt (English version & Chinese version), and please support me on Patreon.

This is my first Song dynasty-related chart, which introduces five princely peerages of the dynasty.

The Song dynasty largely inherited the princely title creation system of the Tang dynasty. Most members of the imperial clan were granted princely titles, which were divided into three ranks: Imperial Prince/Prince of Blood (Wang; 王), Lineal Prince (Si Wang; 嗣王, lit. means "heir, succession"), and Commandery Prince/Prince of Commandery (Junwang; 郡王). These titles generally lapsed upon the holder’s death and were not hereditary. Only a few exceptions existed, notably the Prince of Anding Commandery (安定郡王)—who was responsible for the ancestral rites of Emperor Taizu—and the four Lineal Princes of Pu (嗣濮王; responsible for Emperor Yingzong's biological father), Xiu (嗣秀王; responsible for Emperor Xiaozong biological father), Rong (嗣荣王; responsible for Emperor Lizong biological father), and Yi (嗣沂王; responsible for Emperor Xiaozong's second son), whose titles were transmitted by collateral succession/agnatic seniority (i.e., from elder brother to younger brother).

Creation of non-imperial meritorious officials as princes was relatively rare, whereas the ennoblement of imperial affines was excessive. It was customary to posthumously confer princely titles upon the ancestors (up to three or five generations) of an empress or empress dowager, and their fathers, brothers, sons, and nephews often benefited from such imperial favor.

Lineal princely titles in the Song dynasty were not inherited by the eldest legitimate son. Instead, succession proceeded laterally within the same generation among the descendants of a designated progenitor, typically from elder to younger, until that generation was exhausted; only then would succession pass to the next generation. In the absence of a special imperial decree, princely titles were not hereditary. Even imperial sons were not granted hereditary succession unless no sons of the emperor remained alive. Princes of the blood generally began with lower noble titles such as Duke of State (Guogong; 国公) and were gradually promoted step by step to higher princely ranks, while princely titles themselves could be elevated from smaller to larger fiefs.

In the case of Lineal Princes, upon the death of a titleholder, the candidate for succession was reported to the emperor by the Imperial Clan Court (Zongzheng Si; 宗正寺), usually restricted within the five degrees of mourning kinship. The heads of the Court and its affiliated offices would select suitable candidates, subject to final imperial approval. As long as collateral agnates of the same generation remained alive, succession would not pass to direct descendants.

For members of the imperial clan in the Song dynasty, material benefits and privileges were primarily determined by official rank rather than by noble title. This differed from later periods, such as the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty, where titles were more directly tied to emoluments. In the Song system, princely titles mainly signified status and were typically conferred in accordance with promotion in the military office ranking system.