Why was the economy of the Song Dynasty so developed when agriculture was emphasized and commerce was suppressed in ancient times?

Paying attention to agriculture and restraining commerce is a consistent policy in ancient China, but paying attention to agriculture and restraining commerce does not mean that it completely hinders the development of commerce. There are many reasons for the commercial prosperity in Song Dynasty:

First of all,

From the background of the times:

(1) In the middle and late Tang Dynasty, the economic center of China moved south, and the geographical location and products in the south played an important role in promoting the national commercial development. (2) There are many wars in the north, and the south is relatively stable. (3) A large number of people moved south with advanced production technology and a large number of laborers. Therefore, the southern urban society can develop, so the commerce in the Southern Song Dynasty also developed greatly.

Secondly, from the policy point of view, the rulers of the Song Dynasty practiced an enlightened policy. Song Dynasty was the only feudal dynasty in history that encouraged commerce. In the Song Dynasty, the political status of businessmen was not low, and they could be on an equal footing with nobles. This encourages the substantial development of business;

Thirdly, the ideology and culture in Song Dynasty were highly prosperous, and the prosperity of ideology and culture could promote economic development. And the disunity of China as a whole has created space for international trade.

Generally speaking, the industrial development in Song Dynasty was influenced by the continuous development of productive forces and policy orientation.