During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), lenient cultural policies allowed for the flourishing development of education and religion. The aesthetic preferences of literati and scholar-officials led fashion trends and lifestyles. The prosperity of the urban economy gave rise to a vibrant culture, with folk stories becoming popular subjects for poetry, story-telling and singing. Literary and artistic works increasingly centered on the lives of common people, and a culture that integrated both high and popular arts came into being during this period.