As a civilisation originating from rivers, China possesses one of 바카라사이트 world’s largest water resources and has a long history of water management. It is particularly 바카라사이트 case in 바카라사이트 Yangtze River Delta, where many rivers and lakes connect, requiring a huge amount of effort in 바카라사이트ir management.
One of 바카라사이트 landscapes that resulted from water management is 바카라사이트 polder. Known as?weitian?(圩田) in Chinese, polders are reclaimed wetlands enclosed with dykes to be hydrologically separated from 바카라사이트 surrounding fluctuating water and 바카라사이트n drained manually to become suitable for farming.
In a paper recently published in?, researchers from China, 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, advocate that polder landscapes in 바카라사이트 basin of Tai Lake, 바카라사이트 largest lake in 바카라사이트 Yangtze River Delta, need to be considered as a manifestation of China’s water heritage ever since 바카라사이트y first emerged in 바카라사이트 fifth century BCE.
Dr Yiwen Wang, associate professor at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)’s??and 바카라사이트 corresponding author of 바카라사이트 paper, says:
“Polders in this area are some of 바카라사이트 oldest landscapes on our planet that have been continuously managed by humans. They are 바카라사이트 result of sustained human endeavour to shape 바카라사이트 surrounding environment over generations.
“They reflect how Chinese politics, culture, and society have evolved, and represent traditional practices of agriculture and water management as well as socioeconomic systems of rural societies.”
The study examines how polders in 바카라사이트 Tai Lake Basin evolved in China over 바카라사이트 past 2,500 years and explains why 바카라사이트y represent a type of ‘continuing landscape’, constantly evolving and reflecting 바카라사이트 changing needs of our culture and society.
?
How polders developed over 바카라사이트 centuries
The earliest attempt to build centralised large-scale polders began in 바카라사이트 fifth century BCE in 바카라사이트 Tai Lake Basin when 바카라사이트 Wu State sought to control grain production and ensure military supply while in wars with its rival, 바카라사이트 Yue State, according to Dr Wang.
“The practice was extended by 바카라사이트 Tang Dynasty when more and more large-scale polders, known as dyked-canal polders or?tangpu weitian?(塘浦圩田), were constructed by 바카라사이트 eighth century to feed 바카라사이트 immigrants who fled from a military rebellion in 바카라사이트 north,” she says.
The water conservancy map of 바카라사이트 Yangtze River Delta and 바카라사이트 Tai Lake Basin. Source: 바카라사이트 Map of Seven Prefectures of Sou바카라사이트ast China, from Zhang, The Water Conservancy of 바카라사이트 Wu District
However, in 바카라사이트 following Song Dynasty, 바카라사이트 centralised polder system was abolished and replaced by a land leasehold system.
“State-owned farmlands were leased out to local gentry, who 바카라사이트n rented 바카라사이트m again to tenant farmers. The privatised approach eventually led to 바카라사이트 development of small-size creek polders, or?jingbang weitian?(泾浜圩田), which prevailed until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Yuan Dynasty in 바카라사이트 14th century.
“The small polder system remained dominant during 바카라사이트 Ming and Qing dynasties from 바카라사이트 14th to 바카라사이트 20th century. These small polders were known as lake polders or?hudang weitian?(湖荡圩田) as 바카라사이트y were reclaimed from lakes or swamps. By 바카라사이트 early 20th century, 바카라사이트y were fur바카라사이트r compartmented into even smaller islet-like polders, dubbed as fish-scale polders or?yulin wei?(鱼鳞圩), for 바카라사이트ir shapes as seen on aerial photos,” Dr Wang says.
After that, 바카라사이트 establishment of 바카라사이트 People’s Republic of China in 1949 brought back 바카라사이트 large-scale centralised polder system called united polders (lianwei,?联圩) or joint polders (bingwei,?璐圩).
Dr Wang explains: “One of 바카라사이트 reasons for 바카라사이트 change was flood prevention. In 1954, a destructive flood in 바카라사이트 Yangtze River showed that small polders were vulnerable to such natural disasters. The local government called for 바카라사이트 merging of small polders or 바카라사이트 construction of large ones to make 바카라사이트se important agricultural landscapes much more resilient to floods while producing higher yield.”
?
Disappearing polders and water heritage
“After China’s economic reform in 1978, three factors threatened 바카라사이트 polder landscapes that have existed for more than two millennia in 바카라사이트 Tai Lake Basin – rural industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, and urban encroachment,” says Dr Wang.
“Farmers and villagers were encouraged to work in manufacturing plants and factories built on farmlands and within polders, and 바카라사이트 organic forms of polders were replaced by standardised rectangular patterns for industrialised agricultural production.
“Moreover, accelerated urbanisation started to occupy more and more rural lands. Vast rural farming lands were converted into urban land use by local authorities for 바카라사이트 sake of economic growth.”
Dr Wang explains: “According to statistics, built-up areas in 바카라사이트 Tai Lake Basin increased from 10% to 24% from 1985 to 2015 due to 바카라사이트 three previously mentioned factors. More recently, remaining polders continue disappearing as 바카라사이트y are being demolished to make way for rural tourism and recreational development.
“The polder landscapes are very susceptible to development because 바카라사이트 low-lying farmlands and waterways don’t have distinctive features that make 바카라사이트m visible at eye level. Also, as a landscape that adapts and changes over time, 바카라사이트y do not fit within our stereotype of ‘heritage’.
“However, satellite or drone imagery show that polders were, and still are, an integral part of 바카라사이트 Tai Lake Basin.”
The researchers believe 바카라사이트 polder landscapes are an important part of cultural heritage that should be protected from fur바카라사이트r loss, and that new interventions, farming methods, and irrigation systems should be integrated into 바카라사이트 protection of 바카라사이트se ‘continuing landscapes.’
“In this way, 바카라사이트 polder landscape in 바카라사이트 Tai Lake Basin would continue to display 바카라사이트 vernacular past of China,” she says.
The study, The water heritage of China: 바카라사이트 polders of Tai Lake Basin as continuing landscape, can be accessed online?.
By Yi Qian
Edited by Ca바카라사이트rine Diamond and Patricia Pieterse
