Henan Historical And Cultural Geography (1368-1949), Since The Ming Dynasty

The previous studies on Henan's culture mainly focused on cultural history in terms of space. They paid more attention on cultural changes at different times, but few on regional differences. In terms of the cultural history of Henan, culture during Han, Tang and Song Dynasties when the national capital or provisional capital was in Henan has been studied more thoroughly, but relatively weak during Ming, Qing and the Republic of China periods due to the decline of Henan's cultural status.From the perspectives of historical geography, the author focused on two issues on the study of historical culture geography of Henan since Ming Dynasty. One was space issue, the dissertation mainly discussed Henan-culture's provincial characteristics and regional differences within the province, it was demonstrated by the study of specific cultural factors'time-space evolution process. On the basis of the cultural factors historical spatial distribution of customs, dialects, local drama and folk belief which had significant meanings to cultural regional difference within Henan province. Henan can be divided into six integrated cultural districts:Hebei cultural district, Shanzhou cultural district. Xifu cultural district, Nanyang cultural district, Yudong Yellow River cultural district. Yunan Chu cultural district. The other one was time issue, the author studied Henan's cultural decline cause since Ming Dynasty which was ignored by previous scholars.In terms of study method, the author used substitute target indirect method to analyse the Min-dialect island issue which was ignored in contemporary Henan dialect study field. The Locustdriving-God Bo-Empress Dowager belief was blurred since Ming-Qing Dynastry because of its remote history. The author used time array contrary-deduction method and reliable Ming-Qing materials, finally infered the starting peroid of East Han Danasty of the Bo-Empress Dowager belief. Although the result should be invested by time, but it enriched the study method of Historical Geography in the condition of the lack of available material.The conclusion part of the dissertation discussed three issues. One was the cultural status decline cause since Ming Dynasty, it had some referential meaning to mordern day Henan'cultual construction. Second was that the author regarded the Henan drama flourishing since Ming Dynasty as one of the Henan folk belief blooming's acceleration results.Third was the discussion of mutual relationship between culture and environment, and pointed out that its result was the difference of regional culture, this issue was ignored by several previous historical culture geography books and thus promoted the theory development of historical culture geography.