A Historical Survey of the Yellow River and the River Civilizations

This book explores the relationship between rivers and ethics in China, with a particular focus on the health of the Yellow River and China’s sustainable development. Though the book falls into the category of East Asian History, it is an interdisciplinary academic work that addresses not only history, but also culture, human geography and physical geography. It traces the changes in the Yellow River over time and examines the origin and developmental course of Chinese civilization, which has always been closely intertwined with the Yellow River. It also draws comparisons between the Yellow River and the Yangtze, Nile, Tigris, Euphrates and Indus rivers to provide insights into how they have contributed to civilizations. At the same time, it discusses the lessons learned from people’s taming the Yellow River. Most significantly, the book explores the relationship between humans and the environment from an ethical standpoint, making it an urgent reminder of the crucial role that human activities play in environmental issues concerning the Yellow River so as to achieve a sustainable development for China’s “mother river.” The intended audience includes academic readers researching East Asian and Chinese history & culture, geography, human geography, historical geography, the environment, river civilizations, etc., as well as history and geography lovers and members of the general public who are interested in the Yellow River and the civilization that has evolved around it. About This Book Contents 1 The Yellow River and the Yellow River Civilization 1.1 Unique Physical-Geographical Environment of the Yellow River 1.1.1 A Continuous River Owned by One Nation 1.1.2 Unique Landscape of the Basin 1.1.3 High Sediment Concentration 1.1.4 Low Water Volume 1.1.5 Special Climate in the Basin 1.1.6 Numerous Disasters in History 1.2 The Basic Characteristics of the Early Yellow River Civilization 1.2.1 An Advanced and Precocious Civilization 1.2.2 Continuity 1.2.3 Relative Isolation 1.3 The Early Yellow River Civilization’s Status in China and East Asia 1.3.1 The Early Yellow River Civilization’s Status in the Beginning of Ancient Times 1.3.2 The Early Yellow River Civilization’s Contribution to the Early Chinese Civilization 1.4 The Yellow River Civilization and the Chinese Civilization 1.4.1 Formation and Development of the Yellow River Civilization 1.4.2 The Yellow River Civilization’s Contribution to the Chinese Civilization 1.4.3 The Yellow River Civilization’s Dominant Position in the Chinese Civilization 1.5 The Cradle of the Chinese People and the Chinese Civilization 1.5.1 The Yellow River’s Favorable Natural and Geographical Conditions 1.5.2 The Yellow River Basin as the Birthplace of the Chinese Nation 1.5.3 The Yellow River and the Splendid Ancient Chinese Civilization 1.5.4 The Yellow River as the Political, Economic and Cultural Center of Ancient China References 2 The Yellow River Civilization and the Yangtze River Civilization 2.1 Different Conditions of Physical-Geographical Environment 2.1.1 Differences in Geographical Environment 2.1.2 Difference in Water Volume 2.1.3 Difference in Silt Concentration 2.1.4 Difference in Tributaries 2.1.5 Difference in Floods 2.2 Different Conditions of Human Geography 2.2.1 Difference in Economic Foundation 2.2.2 Different Levels of Cultural Continuity 2.2.3 Differences in Elements of Civilization 2.2.4 Different Degrees of Openness 2.3 Different Civilization Centers in Different Historical Periods 2.3.1 The Period When the Yellow River Basin Was the Center of Civilization 2.3.2 Southward Shift of the Civilization Center 2.3.3 The Period When Both River Civilizations Thrived 2.3.4 The Period When the Yangtze River Basin Was the Center of Civilization 2.4 Different Foundations for Future Development References 3 The Yellow River Civilization and Other River Civilizations of the World 3.1 Different Natural Conditions 3.1.1 Different Climates 3.1.2 Different Degrees of Flooding 3.1.3 Different Conditions of River Transportation 3.2 Different Humanistic and Geographic Conditions 3.2.1 Different Modes of Origination 3.2.2 Different Economic Bases 3.2.3 Different Political Systems 3.2.4 Different Connotations of Civilization 3.3 Historical Achievements of River Civilizations References 4 The Yellow River and Its People 4.1 The Exploration of the Yellow River’s Origin 4.1.1 How “the Yellow River” Got Its Name 4.1.2 Tracing the Yellow River to Mount Jishi 4.1.3 Double Origins and Underground Flow 4.1.4 Personal Trips to the Yellow River’s Source Area 4.1.5 Exploring the Yellow River’s Origin 4.1.6 Identifying the Principal Source 4.2 The Taming of the Yellow River 4.2.1 Legends About Combating Floods 4.2.2 Building Embankment and Shifting Floods to the Neighbor 4.2.3 Blocking the Breach at Huzi During the Reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty 4.2.4 Jia Rang’s “Three Strategies for Harnessing the Yellow River” 4.2.5 Wang Jing Treating the River 4.2.6 The Facts and Reasons Underlying 800 Years of Peaceful Flow 4.2.7 Gao Chao’s Gap Closure 4.2.8 Jia Lu’s Efforts to Close the Breach and Restore the River’s Old Channel 4.2.9 Efforts to Harness the Yellow River During Ming, Qing and Republic of China 4.3 Men and Customs Shaped by the Yellow River 4.3.1 Sheepskin Raft 4.3.2 Loess Cave Dwellings 4.3.3 Winding Yellow River Lamps 4.3.4 Disasters and Customs 4.3.5 Sacrifice Offering to River God 4.4 The Root of the Chinese People 4.4.1 Legends of Huangdi and the Xia Dynasty 4.4.2 Migration of Shang People and Enfeoffment of the Zhou Dynasty 4.4.3 Expanding the Territory and Populating Frontier Regions 4.4.4 Migration in a Chaotic Era: Prelude to Southward Movement 4.4.5 Migration to the South and the Frontier Regions in Yongjia Period 4.4.6 Captives of Talas Battle and Waves of Southward Emigration 4.4.7 Southward Retreat in Jingkang Period and Outward Migration in Jin and Yuan Dynasties 4.4.8 Migration to Northeastern China and Residual Southward Migration 4.4.9 The Yellow River Basin: An Ethnic Melting Pot References 5 How the Yellow River Civilization Can Retain Perpetual Youth 5.1 River Civilization and Environment 5.1.1 The Rise and Fall of Ancient River Civilizations and the Evolution of Their Environment 5.1.2 Decline of the Yellow River Civilization and Environmental Changes 5.2 River Civilization and Mankind 5.2.1 A Historical Survey of Water, Rivers and Mankind 5.2.2 Relationship Between the Yellow River and Mankind 5.3 River Civilizations and Ethics 5.3.1 The Yellow River Civilization and River Ethics 5.3.2 From Conquering Nature to Peaceful Co-existence 5.4 Opportunities and Transformation of the Yellow River 5.4.1 Opportunities in the New Era 5.5 Sustainable Development of the Yellow River References