60
3 Water Resources Management Institutions
The changes in water institutions throughout China’s history are highly complicated. At the central level, the water administrative management function and agency
were normally set up within the engineering department and water department, while
water engineering construction was under control of the Water Authority (Dushuijian). At the same time, there were local or residential water official systems responsible to the local governors, such as the Dushuilingceng (a water official in the
central government) in the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD), the Shuilitongpan (a
water official under the prefectural governor), and the Shuilitongzhi (a vice prefectural governor in charge of water) in the Min (1368 AD–1644 AD) and Qing (1636
AD–1912 AD) Dynasties. Additionally, there were water officials delegated from the
central to the local government, such as the river governor during the Min and Qing
Dynasties, and missions delegated from the central to the local water departments,
such as the Waidushuijianceng (delegated water official) in the Song Dynasty (960
AD–1279 AD). There were also arrangements under which non-water officials were
responsible for water affairs, such as the Daoyuan (a local official between provincial governor and prefectural governor) in the Qing Dynasty and the local governor
responsible for water affairs.
The Sikong was the most senior official in the central government in charge of
water and land engineering in ancient China. In the West Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC–
771 BC), water resources development, including flood control, drainage, storage,
and irrigation, was the key responsibility of the Sikong. During the Han Dynasty, the
Sikong was not a special water official but in charge of water and land engineering.
In the Sui Dynasty (581 AD–618 AD), the Shangshu (minister) of the engineering
ministry was responsible for these areas. During this era, the Dushuijian, distinguished from the engineering department, was established to oversee the implementation and maintenance of water infrastructure. In the Min and Qing Dynasties, the
Dushuijian was disbanded and its responsibilities were transferred to the river basin
organizations or the provinces, while the engineering department at the central level
was in charge of administration.
The water department under the Shangshu was responsible for water affairs. In
the Caowei period (220 AD–266 AD), a Shangshulang (an official supporting the
emperor in handling administrative affairs) was established in charge of water administration. The water department was established within the engineering ministry in
the Sui, Tang (618 AD–907 AD), and Song Dynasties. In the Yuan Dynasty (1271
AD–1368 AD), the Dasinong (great official in charge of agriculture) was responsible for irrigation development, while the Dushuijian managed river dykes. The
water department was set up in the Min and Qing Dynasties under the engineering
ministry. Between 1912 and 1949, a water resources bureau was established under
the agricultural and economic ministry, and later under the MWR.
The Dushuijian was the special agency in the central government responsible
for the planning, construction, and management of water infrastructure, serving
parallel functions to the engineering department. In the Qin (221 BC–207 BC) and
Han Dynasties, the Dushuizhang and Dushuiceng were established to manage lakes,
rivers, and springs. These agencies were under the stewardship of the Taichang (an
3 Water Resources Management Institutions
The changes in water institutions throughout China’s history are highly complicated. At the central level, the water administrative management function and agency
were normally set up within the engineering department and water department, while
water engineering construction was under control of the Water Authority (Dushuijian). At the same time, there were local or residential water official systems responsible to the local governors, such as the Dushuilingceng (a water official in the
central government) in the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD), the Shuilitongpan (a
water official under the prefectural governor), and the Shuilitongzhi (a vice prefectural governor in charge of water) in the Min (1368 AD–1644 AD) and Qing (1636
AD–1912 AD) Dynasties. Additionally, there were water officials delegated from the
central to the local government, such as the river governor during the Min and Qing
Dynasties, and missions delegated from the central to the local water departments,
such as the Waidushuijianceng (delegated water official) in the Song Dynasty (960
AD–1279 AD). There were also arrangements under which non-water officials were
responsible for water affairs, such as the Daoyuan (a local official between provincial governor and prefectural governor) in the Qing Dynasty and the local governor
responsible for water affairs.
The Sikong was the most senior official in the central government in charge of
water and land engineering in ancient China. In the West Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC–
771 BC), water resources development, including flood control, drainage, storage,
and irrigation, was the key responsibility of the Sikong. During the Han Dynasty, the
Sikong was not a special water official but in charge of water and land engineering.
In the Sui Dynasty (581 AD–618 AD), the Shangshu (minister) of the engineering
ministry was responsible for these areas. During this era, the Dushuijian, distinguished from the engineering department, was established to oversee the implementation and maintenance of water infrastructure. In the Min and Qing Dynasties, the
Dushuijian was disbanded and its responsibilities were transferred to the river basin
organizations or the provinces, while the engineering department at the central level
was in charge of administration.
The water department under the Shangshu was responsible for water affairs. In
the Caowei period (220 AD–266 AD), a Shangshulang (an official supporting the
emperor in handling administrative affairs) was established in charge of water administration. The water department was established within the engineering ministry in
the Sui, Tang (618 AD–907 AD), and Song Dynasties. In the Yuan Dynasty (1271
AD–1368 AD), the Dasinong (great official in charge of agriculture) was responsible for irrigation development, while the Dushuijian managed river dykes. The
water department was set up in the Min and Qing Dynasties under the engineering
ministry. Between 1912 and 1949, a water resources bureau was established under
the agricultural and economic ministry, and later under the MWR.
The Dushuijian was the special agency in the central government responsible
for the planning, construction, and management of water infrastructure, serving
parallel functions to the engineering department. In the Qin (221 BC–207 BC) and
Han Dynasties, the Dushuizhang and Dushuiceng were established to manage lakes,
rivers, and springs. These agencies were under the stewardship of the Taichang (an