Spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of elites'travel along the Grand Canal in the Ming and Qing dynasties
Traveling has been a constant exploration of new knowledge and experiences in both the journey and the destination throughout the ages.Travelogues,in turn,are direct records of historical travel activities.During the Ming and Qing dynasties,with the improvement of canal transportation and canal systems,a comprehensive water-land transportation network centered around the Grand Canal(Beijing-Hangzhou Canal)and incorporating the north-south postal roads along the canal gradually took shape.This development attracted numerous officials,literati,envoys,and other elite groups,leading to the creation of a substantial number of travelogues and diaries related to the Grand Canal and its surrounding landscapes.Focusing on these travelogues,this study examines the spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of the canal travels of elites in the Ming and Qing dynasties,contributing to a deeper understanding of the operation of transportation systems and the travel patterns of people in traditional societies during historical periods.This article,adopting a perspective of"mobility"and drawing on methods from historical geography,extracts information and expresses spatial characteristics from travelogue texts,revealing the overall spatiotemporal features of canal travels by Ming and Qing elites.Based on this,the study discusses the influences and constraints on individual travel activities.The research findings include:(1)Canal travels during the two dynasties formed concentrated zones,namely the Beijing-Tianjin travel belt in the north and the Huaiyang(Huai'an and Yangzhou)-Jiangnan travel belt in the south,while the central region remained relatively sparse.(2)Under the influence of natural conditions and canal transportation systems,travel activities exhibited a certain temporal rhythm within a year.(3)Factors such as social status,travel destinations,and modes of transportation significantly influenced the behavioral patterns,spatial perception,and emotional experiences of travelers during their journeys.Building on these analyses,this article proposes a mobility analysis framework for historical transportation geography,aiming to provide insights into the application of mobility paradigms in historical periods.This research not only contributes to the understanding of historical travels but also lays the groundwork for further exploration of mobility in historical contexts.
Ming and Qing dynastiestravelmobilitythe Grand Canalhistorical transportation geography
万方数据
维普
