Qing Dynasty, Shandong Canal Flood And The Two Sides Of Rural Socio-economic

Since Huitong River was cut in Yuan Dynasty, western Shandong had became the key area for Caoyun(the transport of grain to the capital in former times) and some commercial cites such as Linqing, Jining and some small towns raised with fairly prosperous commodity economy.However, the Canal had two sides of effects on the countryside along the banks. On the one hand it promoted the commodity economy. On the other hand, as the major function of the Canal was Caoyun, the government took maintaining Caoyun as the point of departure in its management. Therefore, the Canal would struggle against the fields along the banks for water in drought years and hinder the flood-relief in excessively raining years. The natural water system in western Shandong was further changed by the extensive management of the Canal by the Governments from the middle period of Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty. So Qing had more frequent floods than Ming .There were regional differences among the three junior parts in southern Shandong. There were floods in the southwest and southern part of Shandong, especially in Nansi Lake than its northern part north to Daqing River. To maintain the normal work of Caoyun, the Government committed strict management on the source of water which also hindered the development of the conservancy project in the countryside.The different degree on frequency of inundations in western, southwest and southern part resulted in the different planting constructions of the crops in those three areas. Due to the shortage of rain, drought-proof mulberry wheat and tobacco were correspondingly advanced in southwest and southern parts. Convenient Canal transport also helped the adjustment of the planting constructions in those three areas and the formation of regional division.As Qing Dynasty was powerful and prosperous, it relieved the people in the frequently inundated areas. In late Qing Dyansty, its power declined and the land...