Qing Dynasty Longdong Area Of ​​natural Disasters And Farming Community,

The frequent natural disasters in Longdong area during Qing Dynasty seriously hampered economic and social development of this region.This paper represents natural disasters in Longdong area during Qing Dynasty as a main entry point, starting at the Qing Chronicles of Longdong, consulting, checking and analyzing the historical records of disasters, studying in depth pregnant environment, disaster profiles, characteristics, impact of disasters on the agricultural society, the official and private disaster relief and so on.This article is divided into four chapters:Chapter One describes natural, agricultural and social environment of disaster-frequented areas. Natural environment is mainly discussed about topography, climate, soil conditions, etc; Social environment is mainly discussed on the damage of wars during seventeenth century to the environment in under-developed agricultural and social environment, laying a base for the disasters impact and relief discussed below.The second chapter discusses the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of three main natural disasters in this region:drought, hail and flood. On the whole, natural disasters in the region are relatively frequent. In one year, even one month, several different natural disasters could strike the region, and secondary disasters caused by one disaster are very common. Among them, drought is the highest frequented and most harmful one. It is caused primarily by the uneven distribution of seasonal rainfall. Drought in the region occurs around the year, mainly during the crop growing season between March to July, and there is a certain periodicity, of which 2-3, 5-6 years are primary intervals. Hail is another natural disaster, second to drought, occurring mainly during the summer months of 5,6,7. Flood in the area is relatively rare, compared with drought and hail, mainly caused by storm and continuing raining.The third chapter discusses the impact of natural disasters on the agricultural society of Longdong area, mainly on fanning and lives of the people in disaster-stricken region, agricultural producing, and the folk superstition practice of disaster relief pray. Frequented natural disasters resulted in from food shortages, famine everywhere, rocketing food prices, serious land abandon, frequent population displacement, human relations and moral decay, to dilapidated economy and disordered social environment. On the strike of drought, many people believe in the Dragon King(God of Rain), Tai Bai God and City God. Temples of these gods were commonly repaired and reconstructed in Longdong region during the Qing Dynasty. Whenever drought occurs, people, from the high-brow down to the civilian, paid their sacrifice and prayed for rain. The fourth chapter discusses the official and civilian disaster relief measures. Since the Qing Dynasty, the official relief measures tend to improve a lot. This section discusses the official relief measures mainly from three aspects:pre-disaster prepare, mid-disaster relief, post-disaster reconstruction. Civilian Relief cannot be ignored, either. This section talks mainly on pre-disaster prevention, mid-disaster response and relief from governments and landlords.