Ming And Qing Tianjin Salt Study (1368-1840)

Salt industry, which is one of the main industries, plays an important part in Tianjin during the Ming and Qing Dynasty, and makes some contribution to the construction, economy and culture of Tianjin city, while the climate and locality of the city advances the development of the salt industry, which flourishes during the Ming and Qing Dynasty. As we can see, in these days, the industry and the city promote each other and get a harmonious development, which is of great importance for getting the way of the growth of city, in order to help our city construction and economy growth today.The dissertation is made up of six chapters which follows an annalistic order, and is absolutely on the subjects on the salt industry of Tianjin during Ming and Qing Dynasty.Chapter I is on the salt industry of Tianjin before Ming Dynasty, which is divided into three periods: Tang Dynasty and before it, Five Eras to Jing Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty. The salt industry of Tianjin is characterized by follows: firstly, early origin of salt production, secondly, influenced greatly by nature and politics, thirdly, never dominating in one salt district, fourthly, getting to develop rapidly during Late Tang, fifthly, activating the economy of neighborhood, and is of great importance to the formation of Tianjin city.Chapter II is on the transformation of the management of the salt industry of Tianjin during Ming and Qing Dynasty. In my opinion, during Ming and Qing Dynasty, the management is getting more efficient and flexible. The high manage bureaux is moved to Tianjin from Cangzhou of Hebei, and becomes the manage centre of the salt industry of Changlu day by day. However, the government aims on the tax no matter in the setting or changing of the bureaux.Chapter III is on the salt production of Tianjin. In this chapter, a brief introduction of the condition of production is given, and the production way which is changed from decoction to solarization is shown, so how Tianjin becomes the centre of Changlu salt centre is explained. In this chapter, a close research on the producer, on their taxes and treatment is also made.Chapter IV is on the transportation and distribution of the salt of Tianjin, its routes, distribution area, amount, method and so on. I also investigate the Changlu Dealer which is the principal part of the transportation and distribution of the salt, describing their taxes, service, corrupt rules, and treatment for dealers in order to represent the status of the dealers. In the end, I give my opinion on why and how Tianjin becomes the transit centre of Changlu.Chapter V is on the salt smuggling of Tianjin during Ming and Qing Dynasty. In searching its cause, I find that it is characterized by: staffs involved in the transportation and selling of the unlicensed salt were complicated, source of the unlicensed salt were various, and the transportation and distribution of the unlicensed salt were export-oriented. In this chapter, the treatment by Ming and Qing Dynasty is briefly dealed with. In the end, I give my opinions on the positive and negative influence of the unlicensed salt trade, especially I emphasize its positive influence on the development of Tianjin.Chapter VI is on the influence on Tianjin in city construction, culture and education, beneficent enterprise, custom and belief by salt industry. I specify the contribution made by the Salt Dealers and Officers in Tianjin, and its reason and period of time.There are about 30 schematics in the dissertation helping my depiction and demonstration, and most of the schematics are not merely about the salt industry of Tianjin, so much so that the readers can find the position of it.All in all, I try my best to represent the truth of the salt industry of Tianjin during Ming and Qing Dynasty by parallel narration of different time and districts, by which to get the line of its development, and the reason for its prosperity, and at last, I should conclude the true relation between salt and Tianjin, industry and city.