A Study On The Political Geography Of The Island County In Qing Dynasty

The object of study for this paper is the subprefecture and counties in island areas in Qing Dynasty. These subprefecture and counties are the ones whose areas, including their administrative centers, are totally or mostly covered by islands.This paper uses the research methods of historical political geography to research the subprefecture and counties in island areas in Qing Dynasty. First of all, recovering the base of geography, the background of history and the process of setup for the setup of the subprefecture and counties in island areas; Then, using the research methods of historical political geography to research the level of management, the vast and boundary, the choice of the administrative centers and Subprefecture sites and the select of the officials in the subprefecture and counties; In the end, discussing the influence of the setup of the subprefecture and counties in island areas to their the change of social history.The setup of the subprefecture and counties in island areas were late and the process was very tortuous. For the geographical conditions, they had some disadvantages:The island areas were small; The soil and water resources were limited; The transportation was not convenient; The information was relatively difficult. This paper tries to explain the differences between the subprefecture and counties in island areas and in inland areas. The island district of county is a very important breakthrough point to the research of the history of island exploitation. Through the research of the subprefecture and counties in island areas in Qing Dynasty, it is helpful for us to understand the process of the island exploitation and the administration of the frontier regions in Qing Dynasty more deeply. Although before Qing Dynasty, people also had the setup of the subprefecture and counties in island areas, but most of them were abolished later. Only the subprefecture and counties in island areas set up in Qing Dynasty were kept and have developed more nowadays. Through the research of the revolution process of the subprefecture and counties in island areas, it is helpful for us to understand the cause of formation of the subprefecture and counties in island areas nowadays and its characteristic,and to provide the references for improving the island area administrative management system constantly.In addition to the introduction, the paper has 4 chapters. The introduction mainly explain the origin of the topic and its significance(including the limit to the object of study), the review of related research, the research material, the research methods, the content framework.The first chapter "The historical background and the political basis of the island administrative setup in Qing Dynasty". It mainly explains: The island administrative setup and its main evolution before Qing Dynasty in China; The change of the coastal area situation and its influence to the national coastal policy from Ming and Qing Dynasty; The island jurisdiction way and its geography basics in Chinese territory in Qing Dynasty.The second chapter "The setup process of the subprefecture and counties in island areas in Qing Dynasty". It is the first one of the three steps for the study of historical political geography:Restoring the whole process of the change of the administrative region. This chapter explains the geography basics, the historical background and the specific process of the setup of Chongming County, Dinghai County (Dinghai Subprefecture), Yuhuan Subprefecture,Nantian Subprefecture, Penghu Subprefecture,Nan’ao Subprefecture and Hai men SubprefectureThe third chapter "The political and geographical analysis of the subprefecture and counties in island areas in Qing Dynasty". It is the second one of the three steps for the study of historical political geography:Researching in the way of decomposition and perspective of political Science, according to the essential factor of the administrative region. This chapter uses the limited material to do some research on the level of management, the vast and boundary, the choice of the administrative centers and Subprefecture sites and the select of the officials in the subprefecture and counties, in the view of Political geography.The fourth chapter "The utility and influence of the setup of the subprefecture and counties in island areas". It is the third one of the three steps for the study of historical political geography:Researching the influence to geographic region by the political process. This chapter explains the influence to the social management, the economic development,the culture and education of the island by the setup of the subprefecture and counties in island areas in Qing Dynasty.