Qing Dynasty Shanxi Pray For Rain

At Qing Dynasty, one of the important solutions on draught was praying for rain. While in the modern society with advanced science & technology, it is superstitious to pray to heaven for rain. But why it lasted thousands of years in traditional Agriculture society? We set Shan Xi as an example, and make use of the local Annals, historical records &document to explore the reason to praying for rain.Specifically speaking, there are five sections in the thesis:Introduction: Introduced the current Research situation &thinking trace of Qing Dynasty, and found the defects. The writer thought it is necessary to carry out an objective & in-depth & comprehensive research by seeking the original materials.Chapter one: Shan Xi draught in Qing Dynasty & the general situation on praying for rain. The climate condition & complex geographical features have great influence on precipitation. And the draught was the worst disaster on agricultural production in Shan Xi. In traditional Agriculture society, from the emperor to the common people, they were eager for rain. So when they met with the draught, it is an enduring way to pray for rain.Chapter two: The Activity of praying for rain in different classes. Analysis the mentality of local government officials & common people via their activities of praying for rain: Under the thoughts of interaction between Heaven& people, for local government officials, it was their duty to pray for rain. And it was also an approach to guarantee the nation's tax & social stability; meanwhile, it could also comfort common people in draught to win the public & courage's acknowledgement. For common people, they were the first victims in the drought. They followed the others with fears, which made the activity of praying for rain lasted long time.Chapter three: The relationship between praying for rain and effectiveness. The effectiveness was the faithful basis of praying for rain in long time. Three points lead to the effectiveness, they are occasionally rain during praying for rain; the scientific reason why it rained while praying? The relationship between science faith & praying for rain.Chapter four: The relationship between technological way to fight with the drought and praying for rain. Mei with the drought, Shan Xi officials and common people at Qing Dynasty were not only pleading with the gods , but planted the drought-resistant crops , improved the plough technology, and promoted the irrigation project to combat with the drought. While the technology was out of efficiency, praying for rain become their unique solution.