History of Chinese Salt Industry -- Local Edition

Author: Tang Renyue
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-04-01
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 believed 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 source of income 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, as well as social and cultural development of the country. Chinese salt-making technology, especially the deep well drilling technology in salt mining areas, once held a leading position in the world and had a significant impact on the world's oil and mining industries. Historians at home and abroad have long attached great importance to the study of China's salt history and have published many important works. Since the founding of New China, the salt industry, like the entire national economy, has made great progress. This is a new chapter in the history of China's salt industry, and it is also a glorious chapter. Therefore, it is necessary to write a monograph to comprehensively, systematically, and objectively reflect the development of China's salt industry from ancient times to the present, to promote the fine culture of the Chinese nation from one perspective, summarize historical experience, especially the experience of the past 40 years, and promote the reform and development of the contemporary salt industry. This idea, advocated by Zhang Qizhi, the former Director of the Salt Administration Bureau of the 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 an editorial committee and editorial office were established. It was decided that the ancient and modern salt history would be written by experts and scholars from the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Nankai University, Wuhan University, and Shantou University, 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 divisions of each part are 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: Ding Changqing
Chapter 2: Liu Foding, Professor at Nankai University
Chapter 3 and 4: Ding Changqing
Contemporary Part
Editor-in-Chief: Tang Renyue, Senior Economist at China Salt Industry Corporation
Author:
Introduction: Liu Zhaocai, Tang Renyue
Chapter 1, 2, and 3: Zheng Lìzhì, Economist at China Salt Industry Corporation
Chapter 4 and 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, and others
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 work 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 on schedule. The salt industry departments in various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities formed specialized teams to write the local salt history drafts and conducted extensive work, gathering many important materials for other chapters. Experts and scholars from some universities, such as Guo Zhengzhong, Ding Changqing, and Liu Foding, introduced the research status of China's salt history at home and abroad and their own historical research experiences to the participants in the salt history writing process, pointing out issues that should be noted. The local salt history writers 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 and a highly effective collaboration.
Several chapters in the ancient part of the 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. The chapters in the local part were reviewed by the leadership 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, the Taizhou Museum, the Zigong Salt Industry 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 Museum of Zhejiang Province, and the Yuncheng Yuanqu Museum of Shanxi Province, actively provided relevant cultural relics and historical documents for the book. The photography, drawing departments, and the Atlas group of the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, offered enthusiastic assistance in providing images and drawing historical maps of the salt industry. Zhang Weixun, a senior editor at the History Editorial Department of People's Publishing House and the chief editor of this book, meticulously reviewed the manuscript and offered many valuable suggestions. Sincere thanks are expressed to these individuals and organizations, and their names are noted in relevant parts of the book.
Zhang Qizhi, the main advocate of writing this book, passed away on July 12, 1994, due to illness. He had organized a great deal of work for the book's compilation and repeatedly inquired about its progress even while seriously ill, but unfortunately did not live to see its publication. Here, we express our highest respect and deep condolences to him.