How did the ancients protect the environment?

There seems to be more and more talk about environmental protection in recent years. The general direction is not only that the government strengthens control, closes polluting enterprises and promotes clean energy. In small places, ordinary people gradually become more sensitive to the behavior of destroying the surrounding environment. Compared with decades ago, it is simply not the same. The reason is actually very simple, which is the necessity of economic development and social progress. Only when people have enough to eat and wear warm clothes can they enjoy the "green mountains and green waters" and cherish the surrounding "Jinshan Yinshan". When ordinary people can't even guarantee food and clothing, talking about environmental protection is tantamount to giving up the basics.

China's civilization originated in the Yellow River Basin and has been entrenched in a corner of East Asia in history. Thanks to its special geographical environment and the territorial expansion of successive imperial courts, it has always been a big country. The territory is complex and changeable, with mountains, rivers and Lin Ze all over the country, and rich in resources. Therefore, the "Special Management Law of Forest Products" has long been formulated. Although the civil war continued and dynasties changed frequently, once the country was unified, the society was stable and the economy developed, people began to pay attention to the protection of resources. Of course, the ancient imperial court practiced "under the heaven, is it the land of kings?" The management of natural resources is not only to protect the environment, but also to limit private development and increase taxes for the royal family. For example, Zhou Li recorded that in the pre-Qin period, there were specialized institutions, such as Rushanyu, Zeyu, Chuanheng and Lin Heng. Shan Yu is responsible for making laws to protect mountain forest resources. If a fence is set up to protect the boundary where there are forest products, it is strictly forbidden for people to enter and chop. Lin Heng is a subordinate institution of Shan Yu, whose duty is to inspect forest land, enforce the ban, assign personnel to protect forest land, supervise their achievements in forest protection, reward meritorious personnel and punish bad officials.

In the Tang Dynasty, Yuheng, who managed the forest, was also responsible for some other work besides basic work. For example, as recorded in the Book of Old Tang Dynasty, the duties of a doctor and a foreign minister of the Ministry of Security are "in charge of planting in the streets and lanes of Beijing, planting gardens in Shanze, providing firewood and hunting." All fishing and hunting must be done at the right time. Jingzhao and Henan are both capitals, and they are close neighbors. Hunting and catching people are not allowed for three hundred miles. In the temple, under the care of the servants, the horses are idle, and the five hundred miles of Fiona Fang, the four capitals, are their wormwood. Its customs, Longyou, Xi 'an and Nan 'an all raised horses, cows and camels, and all stored Artemisia and Zizania latifolia. Its firewood, charcoal and wood were put into the interior and hundreds of officials and guests, and were taken away in the gap between farms. "It can be seen that the task of the Ministry of Security at that time was not only to take charge of the mountains and rivers in Lin Ze, but also to manage the supply of materials and hunting.

After the establishment of the Song Dynasty, the society gradually stabilized and the economy began to develop, and the government began to pay attention to the protection of biological resources. At the same time, the Song Dynasty valued literature over martial arts and advocated Confucian benevolence. Under the care and pity of all things, the protection of biological resources is also stricter. Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin ruled Stegosaurus for two years, that is, in February 96 1 year, and issued a special decree prohibiting mining and fishing. It stipulates: "In spring and February, all tools for catching birds, animals, insects and fish shall not be taken out of the city, and the eggs of birds and animals shall not be harmed. Insects and fish are not allowed to catch, and birds will always take turns to fix them. " Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng was in power in Tianxi for three years, and in February of A.D. 10 19, it was also forbidden to catch mountain birds, saying, "From today on, people of all colors are not allowed to catch tits, and their long officials are often forbidden to check them." Mountain birds are also famous for magpies and red-billed birds. It is said that this kind of bird can detoxify the fruit. It was estimated that it had been overfished to extinction, so the emperor specially issued a letter to protect it.

Yu Heng, a member of the Ministry of Industry in the Ming Dynasty, was more meticulous in protecting the environment than in the Tang and Song Dynasties. In the official system of Ming History, there are detailed specifications for the protection of places of interest and historical sites: "Yuheng, Dianshanze, things collected and cultivated. The meat, skins, bones, horns and feathers of birds and animals can be used for sacrifice, guests, meals and humiliation. As ritual vessels and military supplies, they can be collected by various departments in the New Year. Eighteen birds and twelve animals in water and eighteen animals and twelve birds in land are all at the right time. At the turn of winter and spring, don't give Kawasawa; At the turn of spring and summer, poison does not apply to Yuanye. Miao students are forbidden to invade, and Jin students are forbidden to burn. You hurt a beast. If you listen to it as a trap, you will get it and get bad karma. Where the foothills of Zhu Ling are located, axes, kilns and graves are not allowed. All emperors, sages, loyal people, famous mountains, Yue towns, tombs and temples who have rendered meritorious service to the people are prohibited from grazing. The benefits of Yamada Gardens are all taken by the people, and they are meager. "

However, the Qing dynasty imposed a ban on Northeast China, not to protect the environment, but purely to protect its so-called "land of Longxing". But the result is indirectly protecting the environment. However, the price paid is also quite high. Since Daoguang and Xianfeng, the private reclamation of refugees in Northeast China has become increasingly prosperous, and the fiscal revenue of the Qing court has become increasingly embarrassed. Tsarist Russia is pushing its luck more and more, and the soil erosion is becoming more and more serious. In order to enrich the frontier, the Qing court had to partially open the famine ban, and the ban policy was completely lifted until the Qing government issued the Han nationality immigration permit in the early Guangxu period.

In fact, throughout history, the most serious damage to the environment is not ordinary people, but the court itself. Not only did the civil war triggered by the change of the imperial court lead to the displacement of the people, but the environment was greatly damaged. For example, in the Warring States Policy Wei Ce, during the Warring States Period, "Qin attacked Wei ten times and cut down trees in five countries". Qin attacked Wei ten times, and all the trees of Wei were cut down. Mozi also recorded the destruction of trees by war at that time. The next part of "Non-attack": "Enter its borders, cut its crops and cut its trees." It is said that in order to attack the enemy country in the war, its crops and trees were cut down together. Not only trees are damaged, but also water resources are destroyed. There is a battle of water attack in ancient history books. According to historical records, when attacking Wei, it was also the method of water hammer to seize the girder. These siege methods have little casualties for our own side, but they can cause great losses to the enemy, so they are very used by some people. But this method of siege has brought great harm. Under the flood, all living things within dozens or hundreds of miles of Fiona Fang are in born to die. Moreover, the land planted with grain has been soaked for a long time, the soil quality has deteriorated and the ecological disaster has been serious. In the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in order to stop the Japanese attack, the government of the Republic of China blew up the Huayuankou Dam on the Yellow River, causing 900,000 deaths and10 million people being displaced. After the flood, locusts and sand dunes were everywhere, and the surface was steep and concave, which made it impossible to cultivate, causing serious damage to local agriculture.

Even in peacetime, once the political situation was stable, the royal family began to build the Forbidden Palace. Du Mu once lamented in "Epang Palace Fu" that the Epang Palace, which covers more than 300 miles, is actually built on the basis of "Shu". In the Tang Dynasty, Princess Anle, the second queen of Wei Ruyun and Emperor Li Xian of Zhongzong, liked to make skirts and noodles with all kinds of animal feather leather. "The top is good, but the bottom is very bad." North Korean officials followed suit and rushed to make strange clothes. Once, almost all the rare birds and animals in Jiangling area were caught. During the period of King Youwang in Song Renzong, the luxurious atmosphere of deer fetus as the crown prevailed among the court nobles. As a result, deer in the whole country suffered a great disaster. Until the emperor issued a letter, it was forbidden to wear a deer tire crown, make a deer tire crown or collect it. If there is any violation, this absurd practice will be restricted.

This article is headed by Zhu Jiujun, a historical writer, historical researcher and headline signing writer.

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