Volume 2 · Issue 5 (2025)
Study on the Restoration of the Water Environment in the Lower Reaches of the Yuan River During the Ming and Qing Dynasties from the Perspective of Water Temples
Dandan Zheng, Shuping Cai
School of Art and Media, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, Hubei, China
Abstract: During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were in the "Little Ice Age" with climate fluctuations. The alternating cold and warm periods exerted complex impacts on the regional social economy and ecological environment. However, existing studies still have deficiencies in the historical reconstruction of the water environment in the lower reaches of the Yuan River and the exploration of man-land interaction patterns. Taking the lower reaches of the Yuan River as the research area, this paper explores the interactive relationships between water environment changes and factors such as population, agriculture, and culture during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It achieves this through the spatial distribution and functional analysis of water temple ruins, combined with historical documents, climate data, and geographic information, while integrating multidisciplinary methods from history, environmental history, and geography. The study finds that although climate fluctuations temporarily promoted population growth and agricultural development, excessive reclamation intensified soil erosion and frequent floods, highlighting ecological vulnerability. The site selection, rise and fall of water temples reflect the evolution of hydrological characteristics in the basin and the adaptive strategies of the people in response to disasters. Moreover, the multicultural landscape and regional economic pattern further shaped the man-land relationship through water transportation networks, ethnic migration, and water deity beliefs. The research reveals that the ecological environment evolution in the lower reaches of the Yuan River during the Ming and Qing dynasties was the result of the combined effects of natural conditions, climate fluctuations, and human activities. Its historical experience can provide references for contemporary basin ecological restoration and sustainable development.
Keywords: Water Temple Ruins; Lower Reaches of the Yuan River Basin; Water Environment Restoration; Ming and Qing Dynasties; Multidisciplinary Intersection
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