Laws And Social Conditions Of Irrigation Works In Tang Dynasty

Water is the origins of life, and biology cannot survive without it. As the traditional society of China is an agricultural society, Chinese people give much regard to water. How to use water and build water projects is not only a symbol of Chinese civilization, but also a memory of social development, and a part of history of China that cannot be ignored and indispensable.Since ancient times, rulers in China defined water as a national property, and they constituted the regulations about using and distributing of water based on needed in that time. Constant documents have been seen in history books from the Pre-Qin Dynasty era. "Shiji·canals" given the irrigation works a definition first that close to the modern concept. It is the first history of irrigation works in China, and became an example of later history books.In this paper, author chooses the Tang Dynasty, not only because it is in the peak period of Chinese Legal System, but also because of "Shuibu Regulation "which is the first the national-wide Irrigation works Law that we can find the earliest in the present. We can see the "Shuibu Regulation "just a part of it, but it still involved Officials of the irrigation works, flood control, irrigation, water carriage, urban offtake, and so on. Compare it with other documents, we can find cases to support the Regulation, and the Regulation also can prove actual practice in that time. Case by case, we will comprehend the Irrigation works Law in the Tang Dynasty with a comprehensive impression. Water is important to people live, and the irrigation works often designed based on the local conditions. The distribution and use of water resources would affect people live seriously. Irrigation works Law and social conditions mutually affected. We will realize the close relationships in people, water and society once again.This article is constituted by four parts.INTRODUCTION introduce some notions and documents about water and irrigation works before the Tang Dynasty. And the amount of irrigation works in the Tang Dynasty.ChapterⅠ: Analyze the Irrigation works Law in the Tang Dynasty in detail, including Officials of the irrigation works, flood control, irrigation, water carriage, urban offtake, and so on.ChapterⅡ: Introduce some social conditions which connect with irrigation works closely, including physiocrat ism, the Food-accumulation and Border-Guarding Scheme, water carriage development and some other social demands.ChapterⅢ: Praise the irrigation works in the Tang Dynasty, and point out the negative impacts of the irrigation works and Legislative missing in the Tang Dynasty. As the traditional society of China is an agricultural society, earth and water are basic elements. People seek economic benefits, at the same time, and wanted to make use of fields and water maximally. Once these acts ignored the ruler of balance, and destroyed the ecological balance, maybe people could get some benefits in the moment, but the harm had been left to future generations. People shall use it for reference and take effective steps to prevent us doing the same and similar harm again and again.