ABSTRACT
This chapter explains two groups of Song scholars who provided innovative or influential ideas concerning the Northern Wei dynasty’s legitimacy. To some extent, it is understandable that supporters of the Northern Wei dynasty’s legitimacy would exist in the Northern Song period. The Western Jin dynasty might well provide the Northern Wei dynasty with legitimacy. Chen Shidao presents a three-stage succession of legitimate dynasties in response to the Northern Wei legitimacy dispute. Although supporters of the Northern Wei dynasty pointed out various factors that seemed to support its legitimacy, scholars from the Song dynasty increasingly questioned the dynasty’s legitimate status. Sima Guang proposes solutions to legitimacy disputes prior to the Northern Song dynasty. The Song scholars’ discussions about the Northern Wei legitimacy dispute bridged relevant gaps in scholarly considerations. Chen views the latter two dynasties as of superior legitimacy when compared with the Northern Wei since they set out to preserve Chinese culture and cherished the desire to reoccupy central realm.
