運河 建設 努力을 通해 본 中國의 河運 - 元代 以後 山東 地域을 中心으로 -

Abstract

Shandong Canal has historically carried on a very important function as a key part in the Great Canal of China. However, the flood of the Huang He River frequently blocked the Canal, and government made great efforts to recover it up to this time. Especially there has been raised many problems in relation with Shandong part of the Great Canal preserved at the lasting great cost. Official provision shipping was mainly performed in busy seasons like spring and fall when planting and harvesting was being carried, which obstructed the farming activity of this area by exhausting labor power. The reconstruction activities of the canal blocked by flood were also carried through in farming-busy season with huge labor power mobilized, which was also a great burden to farmers' lives. And to maintain the level of water in the canal a lot of water was artificially inflowed from nearby area in dry season and a lot of water was discharged into nearby area in rainy season, which worsened the farming condition of this area. Besides these there were also difficulties of great cost to maintain the route and management of personnels. In spite of these critical opinions, it is certain that in general Shandong has played a central role in the South-North route of the Ching-Hang Great Canal. As more cargo could be carried in a time than land transportation, transportation cost was much lower. And in comparison with sea transportation, it had merit of safety and shorter distance. Especially canal transportation greatly helped to promote the agricultural and manufactural production in the areal along the canal at the peak of canal transportation, which can be confirmed by the fact that the function and the economy of the cities along the canal were retarded at the time of retreat of canal transportation. And the canal combined the flow of water of various rivers around the canal together to played a role of controlling flood. It is possible that the frequent flood of Shandong, Henan, Chiansu area derived from the deterioration of the function of canal. It is certain that the transportation of Shandong canal had a great meaning economically, politically and socially, judging from the fact that each dynasty made great efforts to preserve and improve the canal and the canal transportation in spite of the huge labor power and large expense in re-opponing the blocked route.