History of Chinese Salt Industry -- Modern and Contemporary Sections

Author: Ding Changqing, Tang Renyue, Editors-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date:
Features: The writing of A History of China's Salt Industry was proposed at the Third Congress of the Salt Society held in Kunming in March 1987. At that time, it was widely recognized that the history of China's salt industry was very long. As salt is a necessity of life, the tax revenue from salt was an important financial source for governments throughout history, and the state maintained strict control over the salt industry. The salt industry was closely related to the economic, political, military, social, and cultural development of the country. Chinese salt-making technology, especially the deep-well drilling techniques in salt mining areas, historically held a leading position in the world and had a significant impact on the global oil and mining industries. Historians both domestically and internationally have long attached great importance to the study of China's salt history, publishing many important works. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the salt industry, like the entire national economy, has made substantial progress. This is a new chapter in the history of China's salt industry, and also a glorious one. Therefore, it is necessary to write a monograph that comprehensively, systematically, and objectively reflects the development of China's salt industry from ancient times to the present, highlighting the fine culture of the Chinese nation from one perspective, summarizing historical experience, especially the experience of the past 40 years, to promote the reform and development of the contemporary salt industry. This idea, advocated by Zhang Qizhi, former Director of the Salt Administration Bureau of the former Ministry of Light Industry and President of the Salt Society, was supported by the leaders of China Salt Industry Corporation and China Salt Industry Association. It was decided that the corporation would take the lead in organizing the compilation of this book. In June 1990, under the leadership of Zhang Tiecheng, then Manager of the Corporation, and Liu Zhaocai, then President of the Association, a Salt History Editing Workshop was held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, where the editorial committee and editorial office were established. It was decided that scholars from the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Nankai University, Wuhan University, and Shantou University would contribute to the ancient and modern salt history, while the contemporary and local salt history would be written by the China Salt Industry Corporation and salt industry departments in various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. The book is divided into four parts: Ancient, Modern, Contemporary, and Local. The specific division of labor for each part is as follows:
Ancient Part
Editor-in-Chief: Guo Zhengzhong, Researcher at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Author: Introduction - Guo Zhengzhong
Chapter 1 - Huang Huixian, Professor at the Department of History, Wuhan University
Chapter 2 - Wu Liyu, Associate Researcher at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Chapter 3 - Guo Zhengzhong
Chapter 4 - Chen Gaohua, Researcher at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Chapter 5 - Liu Miao, Associate Researcher at Shantou University
Chapter 6 - Chen Feng, Professor at the Department of History, Wuhan University
Modern Part
Editor-in-Chief: Ding Changqing, Professor at Nankai University
Author: Introduction - Ding Changqing
Chapter 1 - Liu Foding, Professor at Nankai University
Chapters 2-3 - Ding Changqing
Contemporary Part
Editor-in-Chief: Tang Renyue, Senior Economist at China Salt Industry Corporation
Author: Introduction - Liu Zhaocai, Tang Renyue
Chapters 2-3 - Zheng Lìzhì, Economist at China Salt Industry Corporation
Chapters 4-5 - Zhu Zhengdi, Senior Economist at China Salt Industry Corporation
Local Part
Editor-in-Chief: Tang Renyue
Author: Gao Zengyun, Rui Helin, Tian Rulin, Wang Deyuan, Jing Shu, Guo Biqiu, Liu Yulin, Liu Quanwu, Zhu Yiren, Jiang Xiping, Shi Shulin, Liu Minjun, Chen Hui, Zhu Zhengdi, Ye Dapeng, Li Xiwen, Gu Wangli, Li Wuli, Li Keming, Shao Ren, Huang Zhengxue, Huang Xunwu, Li Fude, Mei Tongsen, Huang Peilin, Fang Jianchang, Li Fafu, Jin Yaoquan, Wang Mingjian, Huang Zengrong, Bao Qingfu, etc.
During the writing process of this book, the editors and authors demonstrated a spirit of selfless dedication and a strong sense of responsibility, overcoming numerous difficulties such as busy schedules, job changes, and even serious illnesses, while persisting in writing and revising repeatedly. It was precisely this dedication to their work and friendly cooperation that ensured the book was completed basically on schedule. The salt industry departments in various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities formed specialized teams to write the local salt history drafts and collected a large amount of important materials for other chapters. Experts and scholars from some universities, such as Guo Zhengzhong, Ding Changqing, and Liu Foding, introduced the domestic and international research on China's salt history and their own historical research experiences to the participants in the salt history project, pointing out issues that should be noted. The local salt history authors also closely cooperated with relevant experts and scholars from universities in their regions, receiving their assistance, all of which played a positive role. Therefore, this book is truly a product of collaboration between experts and scholars from salt industry departments and universities across the country, leveraging the strengths of all parties. This was a good collaboration, an effective collaboration.
Several chapters in the Ancient Part of this book were reviewed by the late expert Peng Zeyi and others. The chapters in the Contemporary Part were reviewed by Liu Hongxuan, Liu Zhaocai, Cao Fengquan, Tang Dexing, and Tan Qia, among others. The chapters in the Local Part were reviewed by the leaders of the salt industry departments in the respective provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. The China History Museum, the Nanjing Museum of Jiangsu Province, the Cultural Relics Management Committee and Museum of Yangzhou City, the Taizhou Museum, the Zigong Salt History Museum, the Zigong Archives, the Famen Temple Underground Palace Museum of Shaanxi Province, the Yantai Museum of Shandong Province, the Laizhou Museum, and the cultural relic management offices of Zhongxian, Qionglai, Yunyang, Wuxi, and Wushan in Sichuan Province, as well as the Chengdu and Three Gorges Museums, the Haiyan County Museum of Zhejiang Province, and the Yuanchong Museum of Shanxi Province, actively provided relevant cultural relics photos and documentary materials for this book. The photography, drawing departments, and the Atlas group of the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also gave enthusiastic assistance in providing images and drawing the historical maps of the salt industry. Zhang Weixun, a senior editor at the History Editorial Department of the People's Publishing House and the chief editor of this book, carefully reviewed the manuscript and put forward many valuable suggestions. Sincere gratitude is expressed to these individuals and organizations, and their names are noted in relevant parts of the book.
Zhang Qizhi, the main advocate for writing this book, passed away on July 12, 1994, due to illness. He had done a great deal of organizational work for the book's compilation and repeatedly inquired about its progress even while seriously ill, yet he did not live to see its publication. Here, we pay the highest respect and deep condolences to him.