As a maritime empire boasting vast expanses of ocean and significant maritime interests,the Qing Dynasty was resolute in safeguarding its coastal security and fostering the growth of marine commerce and fishing industries.To combat piracy and enforce legal measures,the Qing court took rigorous action.In the fiftieth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign(1711),the Qing government established a legal precedent for piracy judgment through the Luoqi case.During the reign of Emperor Yongzheng,this regulation became a national customary law,and it was further reinforced during the era of Emperor Qianlong.Ultimately,this practice culminated in the formation of a specialized regulation known as the Jiangyang Dadao Regulation,signalling the advent of a dedicated legal framework for addressing ancient Chinese maritime piracy.The formu-lation and implementation of this regulation intricately illustrated the process of how relevant legal provisions concerning maritime territory management evolved during the early Qing Dynasty.It significantly underscored the Qing Dynasty's profound concern for and protection of maritime in-terests.This regulation also reflected the Qing Dynasty's endeavours across diverse historical con-texts and external circumstances to strengthen maritime governance by legislation,with a particu-lar focus on advancing marine commerce and fishing industries and ensuring the welfare of seafar-ing communities.The Jiangyang Dadao Regulation not only served as a pivotal legal mechanism in countering the menace of piracy but also marked the first instance in Chinese history when a spe-cialized law was enacted to address piracy-related judgments.In doing so,it symbolized a trans-formation in the traditional approach to governance,as the nation sought to shift from a paradigm that favoured land over the sea to one that embraced a more balanced consideration of both realms in the legal framework.
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