RITES, SPACE AND FINANCE - THE RESHAPING OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 11TH-CENTURY CHINA

After the peace of Chanyuan (1005), the Northern Song dynasty (960-112 7) had to deal with the problem of rebuilding the unity of the Chinese Empire in spite of his military weakness and the very strong economic autonomy of the various regions. Given that historical context, the ' 'Heavenly Text'' affair (1008), involving both ritual practices and fi nancial reforms, can be interpreted as a major political shift. Throug h the study of the program and the activities of the so-called ''Five devils'' clique who forged the affair, it is possible to shed light on the making of a new territory. Thanks to the three imperial sacrifice s made in prestigious places, the emperor Song Zhenzong and Kaifeng, h is capital city, became the center of a holy world where the transfer of goods and money was regulated by the Imperial Treasure. The reshapi ng of the financial structures made possible the commitment of the Sta te in the development of an empire-wide economy, which is one of the m ain features of the Song dynasty.