The designated official communication speed in the Song Dynasty was stipulated to be 500 li per day,or approximately 250 kilometers,following the swiftest standards of preceding dynasties.However,this standard was never actually satisfied,which was taken for granted,leading to a gradual decline in the actual speed.In the early Song Dynasty,communication speeds were at their peak,with exceptional dispatches averaging approximately 450 li per day,while standard dispatches reached around 345 li.Military urgent messages surpassed 200 li per day,with some exceeding 100 li,and routine official documents typically traveled a mere several dozen li daily.Despite subsequent systems becoming more rigorous and intricate,operational efficacy did not witness improvements,but notably regressed by the end of the Northern Song Dynasty.The Southern Song Dynasty,amid prolonged wartime scenarios,invested heavily in establishing a responsive official communication system,showcasing a noteworthy peak daily average speed of approximately 318 li.However,the maximum designated speed of 350 li daily significantly lagged behind that of the Northern Song,and the actual fastest pace of the Southern Song never reached the heights of its predecessor.This reversal trend was stark,with court mandates taking up to half a year or even longer to reach regions like Guangxi,the furthest province from the imperial capital.As the governmental communication lifeline,communication speed serves as a mirror reflecting the operational efficiency of the court and the fortunes of the nation.
communication speedinformation transmissionSong Dynastypostal system
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