Huang-Huai division basis

First, the natural conditions here are basically the same. This area is located between 33 and 35.5 north latitude, with humid climate and abundant sunshine. In addition, it is located in the plain and has convenient irrigation conditions, which is very suitable for crop growth. From the Neolithic Age to the Sui, Tang and Northern Song Dynasties, it was an important grain-producing area and one of the main tax sources of the feudal dynasty.

Second, the level of civilization here is basically the same. From west to east, from south to north, most areas of Huanghuai bear the imprint of the activities of Chinese ancestors. 198 1 year, a batch of ape-man fossils were found in Qizi Anshan, Tumen Town, Yiyuan County, Shandong Province, which were called "Yiyuan people" about 400,000 to 500,000 years ago. 1954, a new human fossil was found in Xiacaowan, Sihong County, Jiangsu Province, which was called Sihong Man or Xiacaowan Man, about 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. The discovery of north and south shows that Huanghuai area is also one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. After entering the Neolithic Age, Peiligang culture in Henan, Beixin culture, Dawenkou culture, Longshan culture in Shandong, Qingliangang culture in Jiangsu, etc. All of them have typical significance, which indicates that Huanghuai area is one of the earliest areas to step into agricultural civilization. During the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the residents of the Huaihe River Basin were collectively called Huaiyi or Dongyi. They kept in touch with the people of the Central Plains and eventually merged into the Han nationality, the main body of the Chinese nation. Since then, the Huanghuai area has become a concentrated area of the Han nationality, playing an increasingly important role in the history of China.

Third, the historical destiny here is basically the same. Historically, the economic development of Huanghuai area can be roughly divided into five stages:

The first stage began in prehistoric times and ended in the 16th year of Emperor Wendi (BC 164). During this period, because the Yellow River did not seize the Huaihe River and enter the sea, the water flow of the Huaihe River and its main tributaries was calm, the ecological environment of the Huanghuai Plain was not destroyed, and agricultural production showed a good trend of sustainable development.

The second stage began in the 16th year before Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty (164 BC) and ended in the 13th year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (70 AD), which lasted more than 230 years. During this period, the Yellow River burst into the sea many times, which brought profound disasters to the people of Huanghuai. However, because most of them are blocked by time, although the losses are great, they have not caused much environmental damage, so the economy of Huanghuai area is still developing in twists and turns.

The third stage began in the 13th year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (70 years) and ended in the 2nd year of Jianjian in the Southern Song Dynasty (1 128), which lasted more than 1000 years. During this period, due to Wang Jing's success in managing the river and the border, the Yellow River and the border water parted ways, and the Yellow River's capture of Huai River was effectively controlled. Therefore, Huanghuai area has basically relieved the threat of the Yellow River flood and can vigorously develop economic production. Liang, Jin, Han, Zhou and Northern Song Dynasties all opened in Kaifeng, which fully shows that the economic development of Huanghuai area has made great progress and is in the leading region in the country.

The fourth stage began in the second year of Jian Yan in Southern Song Dynasty (1 128) and ended in the fifth year of Xianfeng in Qing Dynasty (1855), which lasted for more than 700 years. During this period, Du Chong, who stayed in Tokyo (now Kaifeng, Henan Province) in the Southern Song Dynasty, even opened a river in hua county, Henan Province, which led to the serious consequences of the Yellow River seizing the Huaihe River for more than 700 years and caused irreparable damage to the ecological environment in Huanghuai area.

The fifth stage began in the fifth year of Xianfeng in Qing Dynasty (1855), and finally the new China was founded (1949), which lasted for more than 90 years. During this period, due to the northward introduction of the Yellow River and the entry of the Daqing River into the sea, the Huanghuai area was spared from the suffering of the Yellow River, and the people began to recuperate, renovate the land and improve the environment. However, the good times did not last long. 1938, in order to prevent the Japanese army from attacking southward, the Kuomintang government even ordered the bombing of the Yellow River levee at Huayuankou. Rolling floods flooded 44 counties and cities in Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, and also affected southern Shandong. It took nine years for the Yellow River to seize the Huaihe River, which not only destroyed the achievements of the people of Huanghuai in rebuilding their homes in previous decades, but also formed a larger flooded area of the Yellow River, further deteriorating the ecological environment here and making the economic development here lag behind the surrounding areas. It can be seen that the historical destiny of all parts of the Huanghuai area is roughly the same, with one glory and one loss.

It is for the above reasons that we break through the boundaries of provincial administrative divisions and study Huanghuai area as a whole across four provinces. It must be pointed out that as early as more than ten years ago, academic circles have begun to take Huanghuai area as the research object. Xuzhou Normal University established Huaihai Development Research Institute, and the journal of Shangqiu Normal University was named Huanghuai Journal. In addition, more than 100 academic papers devoted to the economic development of Huanghuai area were published, covering agriculture, climate, soil, wheat and cotton, yam, beet, hydrogeology, corn, bees, soybeans, leeks, pomegranate, rocks, peppers, regional culture and so on. We should absorb their research results and lead this research deeper.