漕运视域下的清代两湖社会变迁研究.

In the Qing Dynasty, 8 million dans (1 dan equals 60kg) of grain were collected from eight provinces of the country every year and transported to the capital or designated places for royal expenses, official salaries, military pay and defense. Thanks to the superior natural environment and large-scale social development, the Hubei and Hunan Provinces became important grain collection areas. The grain collecting administration in Hubei and Hunan Provinces played an important role for the central government in strengthening local social control. There were extremely detailed and strict regulations from grain collection to delivery and acceptance. From the perspective of social history, the development of the grain collecting administration in Hubei and Hunan Provinces in the Qing Dynasty was carried out in close interaction with the local society. Water transportation connected the people, agriculture, trade, social relations, people’s livelihood and other elements of the local society in the two provinces, thus unfolding a vivid social picture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]