A Research On Ocean Issues And Coastal Defence System Of Zhaoqing Prefecture In The Ming And Qing Dynasties

Zhaoqing is located at the junction of Guangdong and Guangxi Province,the lower reaches of Xijiang River Basin.It has been an important town in Lingnan since ancient times.In the Ming and Qing Dynasties,Zhaoqing was one of the coastal cities in Guangdong Province,but the research on its historical coastal defense is relatively blank.This paper will take Zhaoqing Prefecture in Ming and Qing dynasties as the research scope to discuss the coastal defense in this region.The first and second chapters of this paper will discuss the evolution of the geographical environment and the administrative division of Zhaoqing prefecture,investigate the historical facts of the invasion of pirates,and analyze the natural conditions and realistic needs behind the construction of coastal defense.The unique geographical location and cultural conditions of Zhaoqing Prefecture have made local military affairs frequent.During the Ming and Qing dynasties,pirates often came here to plunder,they collude with coastal residents and mountain bandit sometimes.Meanwhile,the discriminated Dans,who use boats as their homes on the riverside and the seaside are also potentially unstable factors.The third and fourth chapters discuss the construction of coastal defense of Zhaoqing in Ming and Qing Dynasties.During the Hongwu Period,the coastal defense was initially built in China.The Ming government set up The Garrison System(Wei-Suo System),which exerted positive action in stabilizing the coastal areas.In this context,Yangjiang county has set up Yangjiang-Suo,Hailang-Suo and Shuangyu-Suo.However,there are some shortcomings in this kind of defense,such as the dispersion of higher authorities and the shortage of troops.In the middle of Ming Dynasty,in order to make the rights and responsibilities of coastal defense tasks clear,the government formulated the Coastal Patrol And Meeting system,and set up coastal fortresses and specialized coast Guard officers to improve the coastal defense.Beijin-Zhai in Yangjiang has become an importantpart of the Coastal Patrol And Meeting system,and an important coastal defense stronghold in Guangdong Province.The governor's office of Guangdong and Guangdong provinces was relocated to Zhaoqing for coastal defense in 1564.Under the influence of military and political forces,Zhaoqing unconsciously contacted with the changing world.In the early qing dynasty,the policy of sea prohibition and boundary removal affected the livelihood of residents in Yangjiang county and Enping county,and also destroyed the original coastal defense system.During the Kangxi period,Zhaoqing government reorganized coastal defense.rebuilt and renovated the coastal batteries which replaced the garrisons as the first defensive line of coastal defense.After the establishment of Yangjiang town,jurisdiction over the left camp,right camp,Wuchuan camp,Naozhou camp,Haian camp Dongshan camp,power and responsibility is very heavy.At the same time,the interior of Guangdong West Road is divided into two parts: the upper part of the West and the lower part of the West.The Coastal Patrol And Meeting system has been continuously improved.