Relationship between ancient bridges and population dynamics in the lower Yangtze River Basin, China

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 9;12(8):e0182560. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182560. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

It has been suggested that population growth dynamics may be revealed by the geographic distribution and the physical structure of ancient bridges. Yet, this relationship has not been empirically verified. In this study, we applied the archaeological records for ancient bridges to reveal the population growth dynamics in the lower Yangtze River Basin in late imperial China. We investigated 89 ancient bridges in Yixing that were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties (AD1368-1911). Global Position System information and structure (length, width, and span) of those bridges was measured during our field investigations. Their distribution density was calculated by ArcGIS. The historical socio-economic dynamics of Yixing was inferred from the distribution and structure of ancient bridges. Based on the above information, the population growth dynamics in Yixing was projected. Our results show that 77 bridges were built in Yixing during the Qing dynasty, which is 6.41 times more than the number built during the Ming dynasty. In the Ming dynasty, bridges were built on pivotal routes; in the Qing dynasty, bridges were scattered across various places. Over the period, the density distribution of bridges shifted northwestward, while the average length and width of bridges decreased. The increasing number of bridges corresponded to population growth, largely attributable to massive clan migration from northern China during the Little Ice Age. The shift in the density distribution of bridges corresponded to the formation of settlements of large clans and the blossoming of Yixing Teapot handicrafts. The scattering and the reduction in average length and width of bridges was due to the dispersal of population and the associated formation of small settlements in the latter period. Our approach is innovative and robust, and could be employed to recover long-term historical population growth dynamics in other parts of China.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Environment Design
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • History, Ancient
  • Humans
  • Population Density
  • Population Dynamics / history*
  • Rivers
  • Transportation / history

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41571162), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2016M601769), Sino-British Fellowship Trust, National Natural Science Foundation of China (41301208), Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (20130091120030), Hui Oi-Chow Trust Fund (201502172003 and 201602172006), and Research Grants Council of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (HKU745113H and 17610715). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.