The Problem of Public Health in Cities of the Southern Sung Dynasty

Ken-yao Liang

Department of History, National Taiwan University

    The problem of public health in cities of the Southern Sung dynasty is closely connected to a rising population during that time period. An increasing urban population included both permanent residents as well as incoming merchants and trade caravans and other groups of population flow. Incessant activity generated increasing amounts of garbage, and although residents had methods of handling these problems, many ignored these measures and polluted the roads, waterways, and lakes. Cities and other urban areas became more and more crowded, housing became more compact, and a shortage of space occurred which meant that lakes, waterways and roadways were often used to create more space. Consequently, getting rid of pollution and garbage became even more of a problem. A combination of high population density and an increasingly active social environment meant that disease became commonplace, affecting peoples' health and endangering their lives. This occurred in Southern Sung's most famous cities such as Lin'an and was also common in many other parts of the empire. Both central and local governments had to take steps to address these problems. The government of the Southern Sung initiated several measures in terms of public health in the cities. Some involved psychological measures to pacify peoples fears regarding diseases and death; some involved attempting to sustain a cleaner environment so as to decrease disease, while other strategies involved promoting medicinal methods and establishing public health facilities and welfare services. As public health in the cities deteriorated and disease became rampant, these measures became characteristic of the cities in the post-Sung period.

Keywords: Southern Sung, city, public health, waterway