A Bustling Capital on Horseback

In the streets of Kaifeng, the bustling capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127), an unusual sight would greet modern eyes: a thriving rental market for horses and donkeys. Historical records reveal that the famous Along the River During the Qingming Festival painting depicts 46 donkeys and mules but only 20 horses—a reflection of the era’s reality. Yet within the city, horses were the preferred mode of transport for those who could afford them.

Much like hailing a taxi today, Song urbanites could simply raise a hand to summon a “rental horse.” The Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital (Dongjing Meng Hua Lu) notes: “For ordinary errands, if the journey seemed too long or tiring, one could rent a saddled horse at any street or bridge for no more than a hundred coins.” Even at night, during the second watch (around 9–11 PM), these services remained available.

The Economics of Horse Rentals

A fascinating glimpse into the rental process comes from Wei Tai’s Notes from the Eastern Pavilion (Dongxuan Bilu):
> “In the capital, many rented horses for travel. The handler would first negotiate the price, asking, ‘Is this one-way or round trip?’ A round trip cost double.”

Imagine the scene: A Song citizen waves down a horse handler—akin to a taxi driver—and bargains:
– “To White矾楼. How much?”
– “Round trip?”
– “Just one way.”

Daily rates were documented by the Japanese monk Jōjin in Pilgrimage to Tiantai and Wutai Mountains: Renting nine horses cost 1,500 coins (~160 coins per horse/day), aligning with the Dreams of Splendor’s “under a hundred coins” claim. Distance-based pricing averaged 3–4 coins per li (~500 meters).

Donkeys: The Affordable Alternative

While horses dominated Kaifeng’s streets, donkeys were the working-class choice. Scholar Song Qi’s Ode to Renting a Donkey humorously observed that “city folk often rented donkeys to get by.” By the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1067–1085), however, horses grew more popular despite donkeys’ lower cost.

The Moral Rejection of Sedan Chairs

Northern Song elites famously avoided sedan chairs. As Classified Conversations of Master Zhu (Zhuzi Yulei) records:
> “Before the Southern Migration [1127], officials rarely used sedan chairs. Figures like Wang Anshi and Cheng Yi argued, ‘We cannot treat humans as beasts.’ Only the elderly or ill accepted them—and only after refusal. After the move south, sedan chairs became unavoidable.”

This resistance reflected Confucian humanist values. Southern Song’s sedan chair adoption likely stemmed from horse shortages post-Jurchen invasions.

The Flourishing Service Economy

### Household Staffing Agencies

Song cities offered remarkably modern domestic services. The Dreams of Splendor describes agencies (hanglao or yaren) that connected households with:
– Male servants (renli)
– Errand runners (gandangren)
– Chefs (jiushizuojiang)
– Maids (nüshi), arranged through matchmakers

Southern Song’s Dreams of the Splendid Capital (Mengliang Lu) adds that these agencies formed担保 networks—if a servant fled or stole, the agency would track them down.

### Wedding Planning, Song-Style

For weddings, families could rent everything from:
– Sedan chairs (yanzi)
– Jewelry and clothing
– Banquet utensils
– Even attendants’ uniforms

Professional event planners—”Four Offices and Six Bureaus”—handled all logistics:
1. Four Offices: Canopy setup, cooking, tea/wine service, dish presentation
2. Six Bureaus: Fruits, preserves, vegetables, lighting, incense, decorations

These services followed fixed rates (“dare not overcharge”), ensuring stress-free celebrations.

The World’s First Weather Reports

In an era without clocks in every home, cities relied on public timekeeping. Italian merchant Jacob of Ancona (1271) noted bell towers in Quanzhou where guards struck gongs hourly.

More remarkably, Buddhist monks doubled as weather forecasters. Each dawn, they walked the streets:
– Ringing iron plates or wooden fish to announce the time
– Calling out forecasts: “Clear skies!” or “Rain today!”

As Dreams of Splendid Capital explains:
> “Officials needed forecasts for duties; vendors adjusted plans. Even in storms, the reports never ceased.”

Monks received alms for this service—a proto-subscription model blending spirituality and practicality.

Legacy of a Consumer Revolution

The Song Dynasty’s service economy presaged modern conveniences:
– Transport apps: Horse rentals foreshadowed Uber’s on-demand model
– Wedding planners: The Four Offices and Six Bureaus mirror today’s event companies
– Weather apps: Monks’ reports were medieval meteorology

This commercial vibrancy—rooted in urbanization and a cash economy—collapsed after the Mongol invasion (1279). Yet its innovations remind us that consumer culture is no modern invention, but a thread woven deeply into human history.

From rental horses to weather updates, the Song built a world where convenience was just a street call away.