The Song dynasty was weak and ineffective, and often beset by foreign invaders, even suffering the indignity of having two of its emperors, Hui and Qin, being taken prisoner. To bolster their authority, the rulers introduced a high degree of centralization of military, political, judicial and other powers.
宋朝積弱不振、屢遭外族侵擾，加上徽、欽二帝被俘虜的奇恥大辱，為了加強統治力量，統治者在軍、政、司法等各方面都實施高度的中央集權。