Study On The Development Of Xinjiang Water Conservancy In Qing Dynasty

Xinjiang had a vast territory and complex natural environmentin Qing dynasty.There are three mountain systems and two basins.Located in the abdomen of Eurasia,xinjiang is far away from the ocean,and the surrounding mountains block it,so it is difficult for water vapor of the ocean to reach,the precipitation is much less than other areas at the same latitude.It has a typical continental temperate desert climate characteristics.No matter how much the climate has changed in history,irrigation has always been the lifeblood of agriculture in Xinjiang,which has not changed.Unique geographical location and complex topography surrounded by mountains have a great impact on the formation of water resources in Xinjiang.In Qing dynasty,the distribution of water resources in Xinjiang was rather uneven and the seasonal distribution was extremely unbalanced.The water conservancy development in Xinjiang reflects the interactive relationship between regional natural conditions and human activities.Water conservancy development in the north and south of Tianshan mountain had an unprecedented development after the Qing dynasty unified Xinjiang.During the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns in Qing dynasty,the first climax of Xinjiang water conservancy development appeared.During this period,the water conservancy construction was started by Hami in eastern Xinjiang.With the prosperity of caibashihu,niumaohu and talenaqin,water conservancy of eastern Xinjiang had developed further on the basis of history.Paying attention to the water conservancy,the Qing government began to open up wasteland in North Xinjiang after 1760.Another region where the development of the water conservancy was relatively fast was Urumqi.Under the influence of the military government system and the different policy between the north and the south,Farming in southern Xinjiang was relatively small during the reign of emperor Qianlong and Jiaqing.As a result,water conservancy construction was mainly in Kalashar,Kashgar,Yarkant and other places.The development of water conservancy development continued in Xinjiang During Daoguang reign.The Qinggovernment decided to carry out Xinjiang's wasteland cultivation plan for the purpose of consolidating the frontier.Bu Yantai and Sa Yinga were appointed Yili General successively.They vigorously advocated land reclamation and water conservancy construction,as a result,there was a new upsurge of water conservancy development in north and south Xinjiang after the middle period of Qianlong reign.During the period when Lin Zexu was stationed in Xinjiang,although he was a banished official,he still insisted on building irrigation and water conservancy with his advanced water conservancy technology in cooperation with Yili General.During the reign of Xianfeng and tongzhi,the long period of turmoil which affected reclamation greatly led to the trough of water conservancy development.Another climax of water conservancy development rose after Xinjiang was recovered.After the war,the Qing government tried to control Xinjiang in order to ensure the security of the border areas,thus the large-scale water conservancy development was kicked off,the Qing army built water conservancy projects in Hami,Suilai county,Turpan,Korla and Kuqa,then the construction of water conservancy projects became more frequent.Thus,the construction of irrigation and water conservancy in oases has been developed rapidly.In 1884,Xinjiang was formally established as a province,with Liu Jintang as the first governor.Liu Jintang vigorously set up Mintun.He gathered the scattered peasants to reclaim the wasteland,restored and expanded water conservancy.Therefore,the development and construction of water conservancy in Xinjiang once again set off a climax,and initially formed a basically complete network of irrigation canals in Xinjiang,laying the foundation for the development of water conservancy in modern Xinjiang.The vast majority of farmland in Xinjiang had to rely on artificial irrigation in the Qing dynasty.Farmers regarded water as their life.If there was more water,the cultivated land could be increased,while if there was less water,the cultivated land would become barren.Water conservancy facilities with local characteristics include ditches,waterlog dams,sinks and Karez,etc.If water conservancy facilities were to be effective for a long time,regular maintenance and management were needed.Irrigation water management mainly included three aspects:engineering maintenance management,irrigation water management,organization of management.Xinjiang is located in the inland arid area,Where there is water,there is fertile land;where there is no water,there is desert,so farmers compete for water but not for land.The management of irrigation water is one of the main contents of water conservancy management.Good irrigation water management has a great impact on water conservation and agricultural production,and is also one of the important measures to mediate water disputes.After Xinjiang was reunified in the mid-Qianlong period,the government orgernized a large number of inland people to move to Xinjiang.The Longwangmiao Belief also gradually spread from the core of Chinese agriculture area and rooted in the north and south oasis farming area of the Tianshan Mountain.In order to adapt to the unique natural and social environment in Xinjiang,the Longwangmiao temples also evolved from the function of "seeking rain" in the central plains to the function of "seeking water" and "dividing water" in Xinjiang.Furthermore,it played an important role in irrigation activities in Xinjiang."Imitating the customs of the inland" to build Longwangmiao temples in Xinjiang strengthened the cultural identity of the central plains in Xinjiang,it not only embodies the inland immigrants' cultural inertia,but also reflects the deep consideration of the Qing government on the social governance of the border area under the pattern of multi-ethnic unification.The history of xinjiang water conservancy development in Qing dynasty is an integral part of the study on the history of frontier development in the Qing dynasty,The experience and lessons of Xinjiang water conservancy development can be used for reference,and it can provide positive and profound enlightenment for water conservancy construction at present.The combination of state power and the spontaneous power of the masses create broad space for water conservancy development;Water conservancy development not only requires the political,economic and cultural ties between the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang,but also requires the people in Xinjiang to strengthen ties with the people of the inland;The interest relationship between water conservancy development and ecological environment cannot be ignored.