Dredging rather than Diking: The Unique Mastery of Flood Control Attained from the Yellow River by ancient Chinese
Attracted by the fertile lands of the Yellow River's middle and lower reaches, the prehistoric ancestors of the Chinese people settled down along its banks to create a culture based on planting, fishing and hunting. However, these trailblazers were soon threatened by the river's severe and protracted flooding. During the early stages, they may have resided on natural or artificial uplands or led nomadic lives to avoid flooding, while also imploring supernatural forces for help. But as their population increased, they had no other choice but to strive to harness the river's enormous power.
This defining aspect of Chinese culture is reflected in one of China's oldest and most popular legends, the story of how Great Yu controlled the flood. It is said that during the Wudi or Five Emperors Period (c. 2700 to 2000 BC), severe flooding spread over the country and brought great disaster to the people. Emperor Yao appointed his minister Gun to harness the river and control the waters. However, Gun's attempts to obstruct the flood by erecting dikes and dams failed. Gun's son Yu, was appointed by the next emperor Shun (c. 2100 BC) to continue his father's work. Drawing a lesson from his father's failure, Yu noticed and took advantage of the downward flowing nature of water. He dredged canals according to the physical features of the terrain, to lead the water finally to the sea. After thirteen years of hard work, the floods subsided.
Great Yu (c. 2000 BC): A legendary hero of flood control, Yu first divided the country into nine administrative divisions according to their watersheds. He then dredged the nine rivers and diked the nine lakes to successfully prevent flooding. It was during this time that China became known as "Jiu Zhou" (Nine Administrative Divisions).
For thousands of years, Great Yu has been considered not only a hero of flood control but also a model of excellent moral character. It is said that he was so completely dedicated to controlling the waters that for many years he did not visit his wife and children, even when his work took him past the door of his own home. According to the sage Confucius (551-479 BC), Yu passed his house three times without entering it during the course of his labors, and this has become a popular saying praising those who devote themselves wholeheartedly to their country.
It may be difficult to separate fact from legend in the case of Great Yu, but China's long history of flood control is indisputable. The most valuable principle the ancient Chinese learned from their work with flood control was that dredging or diverting water to flow naturally downward is superior to diking or other attempts to obstruct the water's passage.
The long history and unique mastery of flood control attained by the Chinese ancestors was a direct outgrowth of the geographical conditions they faced. Destructive floods are depicted in the myths and legends of many ancient nations, the story of Noah and the Flood in the Bible. However, there are no legends concerning flood control. This is a direct result of the physical environment of these ancient peoples.
Egypt is gift of the Nile both in ancient and modern times. Like a silver strip, the Nile flows across the Saharan desert, creating a corridor of life. Water is invaluable in the desert, creating oases wherever it appears. For the Egyptians, the yearly flooding of the Nile is a blessing rather than a disaster, irrigating and fertilizing the farmland of the Nile River Valley. This yearly flood is so vital to survival that the ancient Egyptians viewed it as the annual renewal of the first act of creation. If the waters did not rise high enough to innundate the surrounding farmland with water and fertile alluvial soil, drought and famine would result.
The ancient Egyptians therefore never developed flood control methods, and in fact prayed for the flood if it did not occur on time. Believing that the Nile god Hapi controlled the floods, they celebrated the yearly "Arrival of Hapi" and worshipped him with offerings and worship, hoping that the Nile would rise up enough to provide both water and silt for the farmland.
图：尼罗河神哈皮(Hapi: Egyptian god of the Nile)
Hapi, the ancient Egyptian god of the Nile and particularly its yearly flood, was the paramount deity of the people of the Nile valley. His followers worshipped him even above Ra, the god of the sun. After all, without the sun the Egyptians would have lived in darkness, but without the Nile they would have perished. It was believed that Hapi's source was two whirlpools in the caves of Elephantine Island. On his journey he was thought to flow through the Underworld, through the Heavens, and then through Egypt. He was responsible for irrigating the meadows and bringing the dew. But most importantly he brought the flood, providing food and water for nourishment and for offerings to the gods.
The two rivers, the Yellow River and the Nile River, bring different gifts to their residents. While the flooding of the Nile River fertilizes farmland in Egypt directly, the “China’s Sorrow” inspires ancient Chinese people to develop ways to stop the river from overflowing its banks. In their untiring fight against the flood, the Chinese ancestors became convinced that dredging or diverting water to flow naturally downward is superior to diking or other attempts to obstruct the water's passage. The success of the ancient Chinese people in the field of flood control heightened their confidence in their dealings with Nature. Most importantly, the lessons learned from the great rivers were extrapolated to social administration and the treatment of human disease.
The copyright of the article Dredging rather than Diking: The Unique Mastery of Flood Control Attained from the Yellow River by ancient Chinese is owned by Bai Xinghua. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
