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How ancient China dealt with summer droughts—a case study of the whole process of the 1751 drought in the Qing dynasty

Author

Listed:
  • Zhixin Hao

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Danyang Xiong

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jingyun Zheng

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Based on historical records and scores of the grain harvest in the Qing Dynasty, we reconstruct the spatial–temporal distribution and disaster severities of drought and flood disasters in eastern China in 1751, and we summarize the social countermeasures to the disasters at that time. In the summer of 1751, the regions south of the Yangtze River in China experienced droughts, while northern China suffered floods caused by excessive rainfall. From 14 June to 11 August, the entire Zhejiang Province and its surrounding areas were impacted by droughts, resulting in the most serious crop failure in Zhejiang Province from the 18th to the nineteenth century. However, the floods in northern China did not seriously affect agricultural production. In response to the droughts, the government implemented relief measures such as exempting taxes in disaster areas, using raw grains in warehouses to help famine refugees, and transferring rice from bumper harvest areas to disaster areas. All the disaster relief measures provided Zhejiang Province with enough rice to feed 1.6325 million people for 1 year. In addition, the government also took some other measures to assist in disaster relief. The series of measures adopted by the government mitigated the impact of the drought on society, and the influence of the drought ended completely on 11 May 1752. This study improves our understanding the spatial–temporal distribution of a climatic disaster based on historical records, and it explores the adaptation of human society to climatic disasters.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhixin Hao & Danyang Xiong & Jingyun Zheng, 2021. "How ancient China dealt with summer droughts—a case study of the whole process of the 1751 drought in the Qing dynasty," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:165:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10584-021-03049-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03049-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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