The repair of the Grand Canal in the Yuan Dynasty and its transportation situation were explored
The Yuan Dynasty, a glorious period in Chinese history, reached unprecedented heights in politics, economy, and culture. And behind all this, there is a silent dragon - the Grand Canal, which silently supports the operation of this vast empire. This main artery connecting the north and south has been unprecedentedly repaired and developed in the Yuan Dynasty, and its transportation situation has also shown unique characteristics.
From Yuan to Yuan, Yuan Shizu ordered the excavation of a new river channel, and carried out large-scale renovation and expansion of the canal in the Sui and Tang dynasties. Among them, the excavation of the Jeju River and the Huitong River is an important part of the repair of the Grand Canal. The Jeju River crosses from Lincheong to Jining in present-day Shandong, while the Huitong River flows north from the southwest of Ansan, divides the water source of Yangsanbo, passes northwest of Shouzhang to Dongchang, and then northwest to Lincheong and enters the Yuhe River. The completion of these two major projects enabled the north-south route to communicate with each other and laid a solid foundation for the transportation of the Yuan Dynasty.
Not only that, the Yuan government also set up the chief and deputy envoys of the Du Cao Department to take charge of the canal and the transportation of the canal, showing that it attached great importance to the management of the canal. However, due to the narrow and shallow channel of the Huitong River and the lack of water sources, the annual water volume did not meet expectations, which was also a major regret in the process of repairing the Grand Canal.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Grand Canal's transportation status became more and more important. In order to ensure the smooth flow of the canal, the government stipulates the weight and draft of the canal boats to ensure the smooth passage of the boats. At the same time, due to the frequent exchange of materials between the north and the south, the volume of Cao transportation has also increased significantly, which effectively guarantees the supply of materials to the imperial court and northern cities. During this period, the Grand Canal not only carried the transportation of materials from the north to the south, but also became a link between politics, economy and culture, which played a vital role in the stability and development of the whole country.
It is worth mentioning that the Tianjin area played a pivotal role in the transportation of the Grand Canal in the Yuan Dynasty. Due to the great increase in the grain required by the capital, the volume of water transportation has increased exponentially, and the amount of grain transported through the Tianjin Canal has reached an astonishing 400,000 stone every year. During the Ming Dynasty, the status of the Grand Canal was more important, and Tianjin became the base for grain transportation. All this fully demonstrates the success of the Grand Canal in the Yuan Dynasty and its great impact on Cao Yun.
However, over time, the Grand Canal is also showing signs of its ageing. Today, the Grand Canal has fallen into dry water in many places, and the pollution of the river water is becoming more and more serious. This can't help but remind people of the ancient poem: "Once the sea was difficult to turn into water, except for Wushan, it is not a cloud." "The glory and prosperity of the Grand Canal in the Yuan Dynasty has now become a historical memory.
Still, we should remember the legacy of this silent dragon on Chinese history. It witnessed the glory and prosperity of the Yuan Dynasty, carried the exchange and integration of northern and southern cultures, and laid a solid foundation for the economic development and social progress of later generations. Therefore, we should have a deeper understanding and firmer determination to repair and protect the Grand Canal.
To sum up, the repair of the Grand Canal in the Yuan Dynasty and its transportation is a chapter in Chinese history that cannot be ignored. It shows the wisdom and courage of the ancient Chinese people, and also leaves us a valuable historical legacy. In the days to come, we should continue to inherit and carry forward the spirit of this great project and contribute our strength to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
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