The South Barrier Of BeiJing: Research On The Development Of Bao Ding City In Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911

In the history of China's development, Qing Dynasty is an important phase which connects the preceding and the following. In Qing Dynasty, the development of agricultural society reaches its peak and the society starts its zigzag and slow transition to modern style. This objective historical background offers the precondition for study of Chinese society in terms of its process of development, transition to modern style and basic traits of social developments. The development and transition of Chinese society is acutely embodied into the space of cities and so this thesis tries to indicate the visage of social development of a fixed historical period from the perspective of a city. The study object of this thesis is Bao Ding City—the capital of Zhi Li province in Qing Dynasty. Bao Ding City, as a model of traditional Chinese northern administrational center, reaches its peak of development in Qing Dynasty with continuous strengthened functions in political and military affairs, upgraded class in administration, and economical and cultural prosperity. Simultaneously, with the reinforced economical functions in regions and obvious effect of the transition to modern style of municipal facilities construction, city management and education, Bao Ding City also starts its transition to modern style. From these two aspects, the overall study of Bao Ding City gives a deeper understanding of the developmental traits and transition to modern style of traditional Chinese administration center. This thesis starts from the bases of the birth of Bao Ding City and its brief survey of development. This thesis focuses on the systematic study of this city in the two periods, i.e. the early and middle Qing Dynasty and the late Qing Dynasty. Based on the research results of Chinese northern regional urban system, the author attempts to exam the overall traits of the development of Bao Ding City. By comparing the functions and developmental traits of Bao Ding City under the Beijing-centred regional urban system with Bao Ding City uder the Tianjing-centred regional urban system, this thesis reviews the change of its administration grade, transition of development drive, the diversification of city's functions and the structural changes in economy, society and culture. Then, this thesis expatiates the overall survey of the development and transition of Bao Ding City from both microcosmic and macrocosmic perspectives. Finally, the author concludes that cities like Bao Ding connects closely its development and political power, but since modern times some changes happen. This kind of city gets mo great impact from the outer world and is still under the control of administration net. However, the growth of market system and increase of commoditization of countryside products changes the functions and statuses of cities as administration centers and so promotes their transition to modern style in economical layer and other layers.