Abstract
The earliest nationwide census record of the Chinese empire which is still in existence came into being in the year 2 ad.1 However, based on other historical sources, we may infer that comparatively densely populated areas had long existed in China, especially in the middle and lower reaches of Huanghe River (the Yellow River), before that. A large proportion of the thousands of primitive society sites, of both the paleolithic and neolithic periods, is concentrated in the area of the present Eastern and Central Shaanxi, Southern Shanxi and Northern Henan.2 Although many significant primitive cultural sites have been found outside of this area and some of them are regarded as the earliest ones in China, the area has no parallel in terms of quantity and longevity. There is no doubt that this was the most populous area during the long timespan of primitive society, but its population density must be very small compared with any later time.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
See Ban Gu, Han Shu Di Li Zhi (Geographical Records, History of the Han Dynasty) (Zhonghua Publishing House, 1975 edn) pp. 1543–1640. For detailed examination see Ge Jianxiong, Xi Han Renkou Di Li (Population Geography of the Western Han Dynasty) (Renmin Publishing House, 1986 edn) pp. 11–17.
The distribution of the primitive society cultural sites unearthed before 1980 may be seen on the Primitive Society Sites Map in Tan Qixiang (ed.). Historical Atlas of China (Cartographic Publishing House, 1982 edn) pp. 3–4. Many sites of this period have been found since 1980, but the general situation has not changed.
The population size of Linzhi was testified by Su Qin’s statement that there were 70,000 households in this city and each one had three male adults on average. See Zhan Guo Ce, Qi Ce (State Qi, Records of Warring States) (Shanghai Gu Ji Publishing House, 1985 edn) p. 337. Su’s claim concerning male adults must be an exaggeration, but the total number of households is believable because household registration had already come into being at that time. So a population of 300,000 would be a reasonable estimation.
For detailed discussion see Yang Kuan, Zhan Guo Shi (History of the Warring States) (Shanghai Renmin Publishing House, 1980 edn) pp. 97–104.
See Ge Jianxiong, Xi Han Ren Kuo Di Li, Ch. 6.
Liang Fangzhong, Zhongguo Li Dai Hu Kuo Tian Di Tian Hu Tong Ji (Statistics of Household Registrations, Land and Land Taxation in Historical China) (Shanghai Publishing House, 1980 edn) Table A-87 and 88, pp. 272–9.
About the general situation of population distribution and regional population density, see Ge Jianxiong, Zhong Guo Ren Kuo Pa Zhan Shi (History of Development of the Population in China) (Fujian Renmin Publishing House, 1991 edn) Ch. 14, pp. 325–59. On the changes in the geographical environment, see Tan Qixiang (ed.), Zhong Guo Zi Ran Di Li, Li Shi Zi Ran Di Li (Historical Physical Geography of China) (Science Press, 1982 edn). Shi Nianhai’s papers in his collection He Shan Ji (San Lian Publishing House, 1962 edn) make reference to the agriculturally advanced areas in North China until the Tang Dynasty.
See Zhang Jiaju, Liang Song fing Ji Zhong Xin De Nan Yi (The Southward Shifting of the Economic Gravity during the Northern and Southern Song Period) (Hupei Renmin Publishing House, 1957 edn) and Cao Erqin, Tang Dai Jing Ji Zhong Xin De Zhuan Yi (The Shifting of the Economic Gravity during the Tang Dynasty), Li Shi Di Li (Historical Geography), vol. II (Shanghai Renmin Publishing House, 1982 edn).
On the relationship between these areas and the national capital, see Ge Jianxiong, Pu Tian Zhi Xia (Unification, Splitting and Politics in China) (Jilin Jiao Yu Publishing House, 1989 edn).
Changan (including Feng, Hao and Xianyang) kept its position as a national capital for more than 1000 years, while Luoyang kept its position for 800 years, and Beijing 660 years. See Tan Qixiang, Zhong Guo Li Shi Shang De Qi Da Shou Du (The Seven Major National Capitals in Chinese History), Li Shi Jiao Yu Wen Ti (Questions on Historical Education), no. 1 (1982) pp. 5–9.
On mitigations to these national capitals, see Ge Jianxiong, Cao Shuji and Wu Songdi, Jian Ming Zhong Guo Yi Min Shi (A Concise History of Migrations in China) (to be published by Fujian Renmin Publishing House in 1992).
Most of the ruins of the walled capital cities have been excavated and investigated, and the Beijing City of Ming and Qing is still in existence. For example, the area of Changan built in Tang is about 84 square km, almost ten times the size of the contemporary Xi’an city: see Ma Zhenglin, Feng Hao-Changan-Xi’an (Shaanxi Ren Min Publishing, 1978 edn). The capital city usually has its suburban part which covers one or two counties.
The decline of Changan, Luoyang and Kaifeng after the shifting of the national capital is obviously illustrated by many records and papers. Beijing also saw its fall during the twenty-two year interval between the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China. A short account is given in Chen Qiaoyi (ed.), Zhong Guo Liu Da Gu Du (Six Major Ancient National Capitals in China) (China Youth Publishing House, 1983 edn).
See Fu Chonglan, Zhong Guo Yun He Cheng Shi Fa Zhan Shi (History of Development of the Cities along the Canals in China) (Sichuan Ren Min Publishing House, 1985 edn). But readers should pay due attention to the mistakes in his illustration on population.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1993 Theo Barker and Anthony Sutcliffe
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jianxion, G. (1993). The Densely Populated Areas in Ancient China: Their Types and Effects on Historical Development. In: Barker, T., Sutcliffe, A. (eds) Megalopolis: The Giant City in History. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-23051-8_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-23051-8_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-23053-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-23051-8
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)