3.1 Water Management Institutions Before 1949
61
official responsible for royal temple etiquette), the Dasinong (an official responsible for national finance and economy in the Qin and Han Dynasties), the Shaofu
(an official responsible for managing revenue from land and waters, and a private
agency of emperor, during the Qin and Han Dynasties), and the Shuihengduwei (an
official responsible for the royal garden of emperor, and royal revenue, minting, and
managing water, in the Han Dynasty). Under Emperor Chen (51 BC–7 BC) of the
Han Dynasty, the Dushuishi was set up for these water officials. In the later Han
Dynasty, these water officials were transferred to the local governments. During
the Jin Dynasty (265 AD–420 AD), the Dushuidai was again established in the
central government, under the leadership of the Dushuishizhe. In the Sui and Tang
Dynasties and throughout the Jing (1115 AD–1234 AD) and Yuan Dynasties, the
leader’s title of Dushuishizhe was changed to Dushuijian. The delegated agencies
from the central government to the locals and rivers were called the Waijian (outsupervisor) or Waidushuiceng in the Song Dynasty, the Fenzhijian (branch of management agency) in the Jin Dynasty, and the Xindushuijian (residential Dushuijian) in
the Yuan Dynasty. Both the central and delegated agencies had specific officials and
technicians. In the Min and Qing Dynasties, irrigation development was delegated
to the local level and no agency was established in the central government. However,
special agencies, such as a river governor with the official level higher than a provincial governor, were set up for the major rivers, such as the Yellow River, Grand Canal,
and others.
3.2 MWR Between Oct. 1949–Mar. 1958: Water Resources
Development and Agricultural Development 2
Before the founding of the PRC, the MWR of the government was in charge of
flood control, irrigation development, hydropower, and ports. This organization had
investigation and survey teams, and it included subordinate regional and river basin
agencies, such as engineering bureaus in the Yangtze River and Huai River Basins,
as well as in North China and Northeast China.
In the 70 years since the foundation of the PRC, compared to the period
before 1949, the water resources management institution has experienced significant changes, impacted by rapid social and economic development and changing
water issues. The functions of water resources management agencies and the policy
focuses during specific historical periods are illuminating examples that reflect these
changes. Prior to 1949, the key functions of the water sector were irrigation development, navigation, and flood control. Since 1949, however, the sector has been
extended from traditional irrigation development, flood control, and navigation to
2 Office of MWR (2003) Organization history of water (hydropower) sector (1949–2000). China
Water and Power Publisher: Beijing.
61
official responsible for royal temple etiquette), the Dasinong (an official responsible for national finance and economy in the Qin and Han Dynasties), the Shaofu
(an official responsible for managing revenue from land and waters, and a private
agency of emperor, during the Qin and Han Dynasties), and the Shuihengduwei (an
official responsible for the royal garden of emperor, and royal revenue, minting, and
managing water, in the Han Dynasty). Under Emperor Chen (51 BC–7 BC) of the
Han Dynasty, the Dushuishi was set up for these water officials. In the later Han
Dynasty, these water officials were transferred to the local governments. During
the Jin Dynasty (265 AD–420 AD), the Dushuidai was again established in the
central government, under the leadership of the Dushuishizhe. In the Sui and Tang
Dynasties and throughout the Jing (1115 AD–1234 AD) and Yuan Dynasties, the
leader’s title of Dushuishizhe was changed to Dushuijian. The delegated agencies
from the central government to the locals and rivers were called the Waijian (outsupervisor) or Waidushuiceng in the Song Dynasty, the Fenzhijian (branch of management agency) in the Jin Dynasty, and the Xindushuijian (residential Dushuijian) in
the Yuan Dynasty. Both the central and delegated agencies had specific officials and
technicians. In the Min and Qing Dynasties, irrigation development was delegated
to the local level and no agency was established in the central government. However,
special agencies, such as a river governor with the official level higher than a provincial governor, were set up for the major rivers, such as the Yellow River, Grand Canal,
and others.
3.2 MWR Between Oct. 1949–Mar. 1958: Water Resources
Development and Agricultural Development 2
Before the founding of the PRC, the MWR of the government was in charge of
flood control, irrigation development, hydropower, and ports. This organization had
investigation and survey teams, and it included subordinate regional and river basin
agencies, such as engineering bureaus in the Yangtze River and Huai River Basins,
as well as in North China and Northeast China.
In the 70 years since the foundation of the PRC, compared to the period
before 1949, the water resources management institution has experienced significant changes, impacted by rapid social and economic development and changing
water issues. The functions of water resources management agencies and the policy
focuses during specific historical periods are illuminating examples that reflect these
changes. Prior to 1949, the key functions of the water sector were irrigation development, navigation, and flood control. Since 1949, however, the sector has been
extended from traditional irrigation development, flood control, and navigation to
2 Office of MWR (2003) Organization history of water (hydropower) sector (1949–2000). China
Water and Power Publisher: Beijing.