Okay, here is the translation following your instructions: A Study on the History of Politics and Culture in the Song Dynasty

Author: Zhang Bangwei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This collection of personal essays is a companion piece to Studies on the History of Song Dynasty Marriage and Family [1], comprising 27 essays selected from the author's published works since the 1980s. The content primarily revolves around the politics and culture of the Song Dynasty, hence the title Studies on the History of Song Dynasty Politics and Culture. The book is divided into five parts, and a brief introduction to their main contents is provided below.
Part 1: Research on Song Dynasty Political Institutions
This section consists of 7 essays, including On the Monarchy and Ministerial Power in the Song Dynasty, focusing on the study of central power in the Song Dynasty. Regarding the political institutions of the Song Dynasty, the author has some preliminary insights, the most important of which are as follows.
Part 2: Research on Late Northern Song Dynasty Politics
This section includes 6 essays, such as The Fall of the Northern Song Dynasty and the Expansion of Power, as well as An Analysis of the Jingkang Intrigue, which was previously included in Studies on the History of Song Dynasty Marriage and Family. The author wrote these articles because Zhang Xiuping, an editor at the People's Publishing House, had invited him to write a book about Emperor Huizong of Song and his ministers a decade ago. The author has always taken the requests of his peers seriously and devoted two to three years to studying Emperors Huizong and Qinzong, but only gained scattered insights without any systematic new findings. Thus, he humbly submitted an empty manuscript to Editor Xiuping. These 7 essays are the scattered insights from that unsuccessful research.
Part 3: Research on Historical Figures of the Song Dynasty
This section includes 5 essays, such as The Merits of the Chanyuan Treaty—A Brief Account of the Career of Wang Jiying, Northern Song Dynasty Prime Minister, presenting the author's personal views on historical figures like Bi Shihan, Kou Zhen, Wang Jiying, Emperor Xiaozong of Song, Fan Chengda, and Han Tuozhou, as well as historical events like the Chanyuan Treaty, the Kaixi Northern Expedition, and Wu Xi's rebellion against Song.
Part 4: Research on Song Dynasty Culture and Education
This section includes 5 essays, such as The Relative Popularization of Song Dynasty Culture, aiming to demonstrate the trajectory of the Tang-Song social transformation from the perspective of cultural education and explore its causes and significance. In this field, the author has three preliminary insights.
Part 5: Research on Song Dynasty Funeral Customs
This section includes 4 essays, such as Why Cremation Became Popular in the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, covering not only the Han-populated areas under Song rule but also the regions inhabited by the Khitan, Dangxiang, Jurchen, Dali, and other ethnic minorities under Song administration.