Qing Dynasty Memorial Compilation: Agriculture · Environment

Author: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences; First Historical Archives of China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Archives are authentic history. The socio-economic structure of the Qing Dynasty, like that of previous feudal dynasties, was based on agriculture and centered around it. Although capitalist elements had begun to emerge during that time, overall social productivity had not yet surpassed medieval levels, making it a feudal landlord state with a self-sufficient small-scale peasant economy as its foundation. The importance of agriculture to the Qing Dynasty is evident. This book compiles Qing Dynasty archives preserved by the First Historical Archives of China. It examines documents such as imperial edicts from the Qing court and military affairs office, (red-sealed memorials), (recorded memorials), and other related records. From over 100,000 memorial reports on Qing Dynasty meteorology and closely related agricultural production, it selects and extracts information on agricultural policies and systems, local reclamation, farming practices, crop varieties and cultivation, crop growth conditions, agricultural disaster situations and prevention measures, with particular attention to collecting reports from officials on the agricultural conditions of their jurisdictions. The documents are organized chronologically and systematically, providing a comprehensive and systematic reference. It is believed that this book will be an indispensable resource for scholars studying Qing Dynasty agriculture, land use, land cover, and climate and environmental change history.