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Books > Earth & environment > Geography > Historical geography
From the Yangtze to the Yellow River, China is traversed by great
waterways, which have defined its politics and ways of life for
centuries. Water has been so integral to China's culture, economy,
and growth and development that it provides a window on the whole
sweep of Chinese history. In The Water Kingdom, renowned writer
Philip Ball opens that window to offer an epic and powerful new way
of thinking about Chinese civilization. Water, Ball shows, is a key
that unlocks much of Chinese culture. In The Water Kingdom, he
takes us on a grand journey through China's past and present,
showing how the complexity and energy of the country and its
history repeatedly come back to the challenges, opportunities, and
inspiration provided by the waterways. Drawing on stories from
travelers and explorers, poets and painters, bureaucrats and
activists, all of whom have been influenced by an environment
shaped and permeated by water, Ball explores how the ubiquitous
relationship of the Chinese people to water has made it an enduring
metaphor for philosophical thought and artistic expression. From
the Han emperors to Mao, the ability to manage the waters to
provide irrigation and defend against floods was a barometer of
political legitimacy, often resulting in engineering works on a
gigantic scale. It is a struggle that continues today, as the
strain of economic growth on water resources may be the greatest
threat to China's future. The Water Kingdom offers an unusual and
fascinating history, uncovering just how much of China's art,
politics, and outlook have been defined by the links between
humanity and nature.
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