Research On Jin-Meng Former Grain-Oil Trade Route

Jin-Meng Former Grain-Oil Trade Route, covering a distance of 2,700 Li and lasting for over 200 years, was a very important trade route that connected river transportation with land transportation between the mid and north parts of Shanxi Province and the mid and west parts of Inner Mongolia from the early Qing Dynasty till the early period of the Republic of China. The research on it is a brand new one in the study on the Chinese history of modern economy and society, especially on the modern history of regional social economy in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia. Prior to this research, there has been no specialized study on this topic but few relevant academic viewpoints, even nor was any explicit definition about it given. Under such a background, this thesis is the first to give a comprehensive account of this topic systematically, which can be regarded as an explorer with academic value and of historical and practical significance.This thesis consists of eight chapters. Chapter One gives a general introduction to Jin-Meng Former Grain-Oil Trade Route. It gives the definition of it and provides its historical basis; also sets its time and space range; then summarizes six categories of staple commodities like grains, oil, salt, alkali, Chinese medicinal materials and fur; at last, this chapter lists four characteristics of the old transport route: seasonal, unidirectional, regional and unbalanced.Since any occurrence of historical phenomena has its origin, Chapter Two analyses the background of how and why the trade route came up from six perspectives, which include the effective control of Mongolia region by Qing government; the policies of stabilizing northwestern border area and stationing troops to open up wasteland; the reclaim of Tumote Plain and Houtao Plain; the survival pressure on residents in the mid and west parts of Shanxi Province, thereby the "Going outside through the West Pass" wave; the cost advantage of ship transport over land transport.Commodity is a prerequisite to the existing of trade route, so Chapter Three discusses the type, original supply source and production of the commodities transported on the old route. Take grains and oil supply as an example, the chapter proposes and confirmed that grains and oil supply source place in the early period was in the Tumote Plain, and in late period the Houtao Plain. Also other commodities' source places are mentioned in this chapter.Goods transportation is the basic function of the trade route. In Chapter Four, it specially discusses the means of transportation used on the former route, which include major means of ship transport and special means of raft transport on river; major means of pack animal transport and supplementary means of cart carrying. Also, this chapter elaborates how ship, raft, cart and other alternatives were made.Ports and their surrounding towns were commercial and transportation places for the route running. Then Chapter Five concentrates on the development of ports and their nearby towns along the route. From upper to lower reaches, there were Dengkou Port, the only port where Ji-Salt was shipped as well as the starting point of the transport route; Baotou, the hub of river and land transportation, which is the most prosperous port in the late period of the former route time; Hekou, the most important transshipment port in Inner Mongolia during the early period of that time; Hequ, juncture of Shanxi, Shannxi and Inner Mongolia; Baode, where the prefecture government was; and Qikou, the major port handling both river transport and land transport in the lower reach of the Yellow River, which is also the ending of the river transport route.Commercial transaction was the core of the trade route, so Chapter Six discusses the goods trade on the route, and respectively introduces the different means of transportation and marketing for Ji-Salt since the reign of Emperor Qianjia and Guangxu; licorice root trade in Hekou, Baode and Qikou; fur trade in Baotou, and different ways of grains and oil operation in the upper reach area and lower reach ports.While historical phenomenon occurs, there will be an ending of it. Chapter Seven is about the decline of the former trade route. There are three reasons explaining the inevitability of the decline: the impact from modern means of transportation on traditional transportation; the depression of agricultural production in goods supply source areas; and continuous turmoil and chaos caused by war and local bandits.Moreover, important historical events will bring about significant results. Chapter Eight analyses the influences and significance of the Jin-Meng Former Grain-Oil Trade Route. Its influences can be found from four perspectives: first, the transport route resulted in the growth of some port business towns; second, it led the economic development and reshaping of surrounding rural areas near the ports; third, it promoted the development and communication of commodity economy between Shanxi and Inner Mongolia; fourth, it was helpful for social steadiness of Shanxi and developing of the mid and west parts of Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, this old transport route played an important role in Chinese history of domestic business and trade, especially in Chinese modern history of business and trade; it also enjoyed great significance in the development history of regional social economy of Shanxi and Inner Mongolia.