Agricultural reclamation policy and environmental changes in the northwest China during the Qing dynasty

Northwest China, including the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and a small part of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, was not only one of the earliest developed areas in history, but also one of the most ecologically fragile belts. The traditionally sustainable land reclamation and cultivation policies for the development of an agricultural economy adopted and implemented in administrations during different periods of the Qing dynasty, greatly raised farming and stock production. However, this led to imbalances in the originally fragile ecological environment. The negative effects such as rapidly expanding desertification, worsening water and soil erosions, increased cost of production, enlarged investment, vicious cycles and failing economy can serve as a lesson for contemporary development. __________ Translated from: Qingshi Yanjiu 清史研究 (Studies in Qing History), No. 1, 2004     

On the correlation between the formation of the “Maowusu Desert” and land use in Liuhu sub-prefecture in the Tang dynasty

The historical changes of the “Maowusu Desert” can be divided into three phases: the late Tang dynasty phase, the Song-Yuan-Ming dynasty phase, and the late Ming dynasty to the present phase. Different parts of the desert were formed in different times, with the northwestern part being the earliest to form. As all evidence shows, the Maowusu Desert in its early stage is believed to have taken shape largely around the ancient site of the You state during the years of Tianbao in the Tang dynasty, which is nowadays the eastern half of the Etuoke banner and Prior-Etuoke banner. The formation of the initial Maowusu Desert is not attributed to the so-called over-cultivation from farming but to the long-time exceedingly quartered husbandry starting from the 4th year of the Zhenguan to the years of Tianbao in the Tang dynasty, which resulted in the destruction of the ecology of the natural grassland. __________ Translated from: Shaanxi Shifan Daxue Xuebao 陕西师范大学学报 (Shaanxi Normal University Journal), No.3, 2004     

明初城墙包砖问题试析

本文通过统计明初南直隶、湖广、江西三省的城墙包砖情况,考察了明初城墙包砖的基本面貌,并根据明代各级城市所用城砖的烧造与征调情况,探讨包砖的相对成本,指出明初城市包砖与城市的等级、所处地区的军事战争形势密切相关。     

Study on the source of raw material and firing technique of glazed tiles bodies in the Ming Imperial palace site,Nanjing, China

This article considered glazed tiles excavated from the Ming Imperial Palace site in Nanjing as the research object. Glazed tiles were selected and analyzed via vacuum porosimeter, thermal dilation (TD), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) to determine their physical property, firing temperature, phase composition, and chemical composition, respectively. Results show that the firing temperature of body belongs to the temperature range (of 950–1,100°C), whereas the water absorption and apparent porosity are large. The phase composition of glazed tile bodies is the same (predominantly quartz and mullite). However, some samples contain trace amounts of rutile, hematite, sodalite, and orthoclase. The firing temperature combined with the phase composition indicates that the raw material and firing process of glazed tile body samples have similarities, which embody of the strict and unified management system of the official kiln. The raw materials of glazed tile body in the Ming Imperial Palace site may come from Dangtu glazed kiln, whereas the rest of the samples remains to be explored. This study provides a scientific basis for understanding the evolution of glazed tile-making technology in ancient China, and is important for the protection and repair of glazed buildings in the Ming Dynasty.     

Characterization of archaeological lime mortars in a Ming dynasty tomb: A multi-analytical approach

Lime mortars have played an important role in constructing ancient Chinese masonry structures, including city walls, buildings, and tombs. A tomb built with lime mortars and stones belonging a Ming high-ranking official, Xu Jie, was discovered in Huzhou City of China. Eight different samples from Xu Jie’s tomb, representing four types of lime-mortar-based materials: joint mortar between stone bricks, bedding mortar, grouting mortar, and plaster mortars were collected for analysis and comparison. The characterization of the construction materials has therefore become of primary importance. The function of each mortar was reported and studies into the micro-textural features and mineralogical compositions of those mortars were performed via a multi-analytical approach. The joint mortars were all found to be aerial lime mortars with predominately lime. The bedding mortar was found to consist of lime, soil and sand, typical of a tabia mortar. The grouting mortar was found to consist of lime and ground contact metamorphosed limestone. Analysis of plaster sample taken from the roof of the main tomb identified the presence of calcium stearate/palmitate, indicating the usage of plant-based tung oil as an additive. The analytical results will promote our understanding of Ming architectural technology and craftsmanship, and provide critical information for the conservation of Xu Jie’s tomb.     

试论黄石西塞山宋代钱窖的性质

本文通过对吕文德及其家族史的考辨,并通过对宋朝经济及钱币流通制度的分析,认为黄石西塞山历次出土窖藏钱币的性质,是南宋朝廷在军事紧急情况下窖藏的库钱。     

唐宋古文运动比较谈

唐宋古文运动是分别兴起于唐、宋时期的重要文学革新运动。它们的共同之处在于．都同当时的社会政治形势紧密相联;均打着复古的旗号为现实服务;文学观点比较接近,文学创作都取得了很高的成就。其相异之处在于,宋代古文运动有唐代古文运动作为借鉴,从而使宋人少走了许多弯路,使宋代古文创作在唐代的基础上取得了更加辉煌的成果。     

英藏敦煌写本《孔子家语》的初步研究

敦煌写本《孔子家语》的“十”卷并非“七”卷之误,它说明早期《孔子家语》的分卷与方法与今本不同,很可能就是二十一卷。但就文字、内容及注文来看,敦煌写本与今本基本相同,差别并不大,这说明《孔子家语》在唐以后的流传形态是基本稳定的,并不存在结构性创伤,所谓“唐本”与“宋本”的区分并没有多少实际意义。     

明代东南地区的海潮灾害

海潮灾害是古往今来危害人类生命和财产安全的主要灾害之一。明代我国东南地区是海潮灾害频发的地区。海潮灾害主要是由台风引起的,多发生在阳历的6月至11月间;和一般的水灾相比,海潮灾害具有突发性和狂暴性的特点,因而更容易造成大的危害。明代海潮灾害不仅吞噬大量生灵。还淹没农田。冲毁房舍。毁坏盐场。造成极大的财产损失。明代对海潮灾害的救治和防范措施有赈灾、蠲免和加固海塘以及佥补灶丁等。     

降雨对榆阳区明长城单体建筑破坏模式的试验研究

前期调查分析可知,降雨对榆阳区明长城单体建筑的破坏形式包括水力侵蚀和重力侵蚀两大类,主要影响因素为降雨特征、遗址保存形态和遗址土的性质。为了进一步了解降雨对该类土遗址的破坏方式及主要影响因素作用特点,按照相似理论要求设计模型试验,研究了降雨对榆阳区明长城单体建筑的破坏模式。试验结果表明,降雨对遗址模型的破坏方式与前期调查分析结果基本一致,水力侵蚀方式有冲沟侵蚀、片流面蚀、流水淘蚀和流水冲蚀,重力侵蚀方式有坍塌和滑塌。一般A型暴雨条件下,各种水力侵蚀方式均有发生,重力侵蚀发生次数相对较少;B型暴雨条件下,主要发生片流面蚀,重力侵蚀破坏发生次数较多。通过模型试验得出的降雨对遗址模型的破坏方式及发生特点方面的结论,可以在一定程度上为降雨对该类遗址破坏的评估和防治提供参考。