作为中国古代史上的一个重要转型期，宋朝的社会保障思想及实践也发生了有别于前朝的重要转变，由传统的重在救助灾荒转变为较为全面的社会保障。在宋朝，建立了较为完备的社会保障法规体系、较为完善的仓储备荒体系和系统的福利设施，将社会保障的对象扩大到社会的所有阶层，保障手段的市场化与社会化实施丰富了社会保障的项目及经营方式。宋朝政府性的社会保障在中国古代史上的地位是空前绝后的，并开创了民间慈善的先河，这一时期的社会保障思想也对以后各代产生了深远的影响。

After decades of research, details concerning the social security in the Song Dynasty have become increasingly known to the public and received high acclaim. It is high time that its achievements and historical significance should be summed up in a comprehensive way. Constructions in laws and regulations, the famine relief system and the poverty relief system were the three main representations in terms of achievement. The expansion of coverage, marketization  and socialization of the mechanism and flexibility of the programs were three innovations on social security in the Song Dynasty. The threefold historical significance lies in the peak of governmental responsibility on social security, the embarkment of civil philanthropy and the transformation of social security thoughts.