A Study Of The Canal Commissione Of Ming Dynasty

Transportation by canal is a particular way of communication which specializes in the transport of grains through waterways, and it is a very important economic institution in the ancient China. As its importance to the country has been increased from the pre-Qin period to the Ming and the Qing dynasty, it has great significance to the national economy and the people’s livelihood, and even to the stability and security of the dynasty.Since the movement of capital from Nanjing to Beijing during the reign of Emeperor Yongle, national and military spendings depend heavily on the southeast of China, thus the canal is the lifeblood of the Ming dynasty, and its manangement becomes nationally important. With the increasing importance of the canal in transportation, the regulations of the canal have been improved accordingly. Generally speaking, the post for managing the canal which once has been attached to other officials now is entrusted to specific official, and the temporary appointment becomes permanent. In 1451(in the reign of the second year of the Emperor Jing-tai), the post Canal Commissione was established, and once a military post has become a civil post,which marked a great change in the ancient Chinese grain-transporting-by-water system. The establishment of the Canal Commissione exerted significant influences on the Ming and Qing dynasties.The Commissione of the Grand Canal was entitled with great power, including the governing of canal, commoners, officers and the army. Furthermore, the urging and supervising of the paying of food taxes, the dredging of the canal, the improvement and citing of the canal management, the reform and elimination of the malpractice, the tour and placating of the locals, the aid and relief of victims of natural calamity, the investigation of officials, the purging of the administration, the charge of military affairs, and the oppression of the rebellion all falls into the duty of the Canal Commissione.Geographically, more than half of the Canal Commissione in the Ming dynasty was appointed to the officials from South Zhili province, Zhejiang province, Jiangxi province and Huguang province. Every Canal Commissione in the Ming dynasty does not serve a very long term, and the phenomenon of “short term”, “frequent appointment” features the posts, which are quite negative to the continuity of policies and the stable development of the canal management.The Canal Commissione of Ming dynasty plays a very important role, it assures that sufficient amount of grain was transported to the capital securely and efficiently,on time, which caters to the need of “national and military spending”. And the scouring of the canal greatly improved the transportation ability. As a vital part of the national power system, the Canal Commissione exerted significant influences on the Ming dynasties.