Historical Development Within The Xiamen Bay Area Prior To The Mid-Nineteen^th Century

This dissertation presents a historical study of Xiamen Bay prior to the nineteenth century., and provides an overview of societal development of the Bay from ancient to pre modern times, which unveils a cultural flow from the mainland to the sea. Based on the study of Xiamen, its seaports, and surrounding fishing villages, this dissertation chronicles changes and highlights the progressive development of the Xiamen area, which shows how the people developed from the mainland across the seas; and furnishes insight into the conflicts produced between traditional and modern cultural elements. The study also focuses on territorial and cultural conflicts, and their influence on both domestic and international commerce and trade. This review of Xiamen's local history provides information necessary for an understanding of the area's past, and provides valuable insight for plotting the course of Xiamen's future development.The contents of this dissertation are divided as follows: Chapter One introduces the origins and academic background of the study; Chapter Two provides an overview of the general situation of Xiamen Bay, including the natural and geographical features of the area, and the changes of its administrative divisions ; Chapter Three considers Bay area development prior to the Ming Dynasty, and provides a historical gloss of development during the early migrants'era ; Chapter Four examines the development of all divisions of the Bay during the Ming Dynasty; Chapter Five details commercial, trade, migration, and economic developments of the Xiamen port and surrounding areas during the Qing Dynasty; Chapter Six provides a summary of the area's gains and losses throughout history.A review of Xiamen Bay development under the policy of partial opening during the late Ming Dynasty revels how Yuegang (Haicheng) became the important left wing of Xiamen Bay, and Anhai, the right. Subsequently, the development of Xiamen port became, metaphorically, the jacket collar of the whole bay, which unified and led the growth of all aspects and divisions of the economy during late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The contribution of the three generations of Zheng Family– namely Zheng Zhilong (Nicolas Iquan Cheng), Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga or Gocengga), and Zhengjing (The king of Taiwan)– led to the unification of Xiamen island and the surrounding areas in political and economic levels of Xiamen, and also established the foundation for modern development of Xiamen Bay. Unfortunately, the beneficial trends didn't continue in the Qing Dynasty; not only did progress come to a halt, but it actually reversed due to the influence of the contemporary political situation.This dissertation gives priority to historical analysis, but also includes complimentary anthropological analyses. Reflection on the history of Xiamen Bay reveals that it is a place where tradition and modernity both met and conflicted. Here, the double-bladed experience of Xiamen Bay may exert predominance over Taiwan, breaking the administrative divisions, supporting and strengthening the economic cooperation of the west-strait economic zone. This could lay the foundation for building the Big Xiamen Bay, and advance the Xiamen Model as an informative reference for the government's decision-making.