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Dujiangyan: The Water System That Made Sichuan
Two Millennia of Flood Control and Irrigation

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About this book:

Dujiangyan: The Water System That Made Sichuan Discover the astonishing story of Dujiangyan, the world’s oldest functioning dam‑less irrigation system, conceived over 2,200 years ago by the visionary Qin governor Li Bing. This masterpiece of ancient engineering tamed the wild Min River without blocking its flow, using ingenious bamboo cages, stone weirs, and a deep‑channel philosophy that turned Sichuan’s flood‑prone basin into the enduring “Land of Abundance.”

From the mythic struggles of early Shu kings to the strategic ambitions of empires, the book traces how Dujiangyan fed armies, fueled dynasties, and survived earthquakes, wars, and centuries of neglect—proving that working with nature, not against it, creates resilience that modern megadams can only envy.

Through vivid chapters on construction, ritual maintenance, ecological impact, and modern relevance, you’ll see why this living monument offers timeless lessons for sustainable water management in a thirsty world. Dive into *Dujiangyan: The Water System That Made Sichuan* and witness how an ancient river‑taming marvel continues to nourish millions—and inspire our future.

Table of Contents:
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1 The Wrath of the Min River: Floods and Droughts in Ancient Shu
  • Chapter 2 Qin's Vision for the South: Strategic Ambitions in the Sichuan Basin
  • Chapter 3 Li Bing: The Mind Behind the Miracle
  • Chapter 4 Working with Nature: The Core Philosophy of Daoist Engineering
  • Chapter 5 Splitting the Waters: The Construction of Yuzui (Fish Mouth Levee)
  • Chapter 6 Carving the Mountain: The Creation of Baopingkou (Bottle-Neck Channel)
  • Chapter 7 Silt and Sand: The Genius of Feishayan (Flying Sand Weir)
  • Chapter 8 Zhulong and Macha: Bamboo Cages and Wooden Tripods in Action
  • Chapter 9 The Transformation of the Chengdu Plain into the Land of Abundance
  • Chapter 10 Agricultural Revolution: Rice, Silk, and the Wealth of Sichuan
  • Chapter 11 The Lifeline of Empires: Dujiangyan as Qin's War Machine
  • Chapter 12 Han Dynasty Expansion and the Extension of Canals
  • Chapter 13 Zhuge Liang and the Three Kingdoms: Defending and Maintaining the Waters
  • Chapter 14 Tang and Song Dynasties: Bureaucracy, Maintenance, and Cultural Memory
  • Chapter 15 Digging Deep and Keeping Dykes Low: The Six-Character Inscription
  • Chapter 16 The Annual Ritual: The Winter Dredging and Kaiguan Water-Releasing Ceremony
  • Chapter 17 Temples of the River Gods: Erwang Dong and the Deification of Li Bing
  • Chapter 18 War, Ruin, and Reconstruction: Dujiangyan Through Ming and Qing Turmoil
  • Chapter 19 Modernization Arrives: Concrete, Steel, and 20th-Century Adaptations
  • Chapter 20 Surviving the Quake: The Wenchuan Earthquake and Hydraulic Resilience
  • Chapter 21 The Living Ecosystem: Flora, Fauna, and Riparian Ecology
  • Chapter 22 Feeding Modern Millions: Dujiangyan's Present-Day Irrigation Network
  • Chapter 23 World Heritage Recognition: Global Appreciation of Ancient Hydrology
  • Chapter 24 Lessons for a Thirsty World: Sustainable Water Management for the 21st Century
  • Chapter 25 The Eternal Flow: The Enduring Legacy of Dujiangyan
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Author:

Kyle Y. Snyder

Published By:

MixCache.com Extended Catalog

Type:

Nonfiction

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