ABSTRACT
Several versions of the major water systems in China are examined for their historical development over millennia – particularly the 1728-km-long Grand Canal linking the Yellow River to the Beijing area and the Three Gorges dam project capturing Yellow River water for use in hydroelectric generation. As the author participated in aspects of the turbine design for the dam system, insight into the dam’s historical and technical development is presented. The modern dam and the Grand Canal serve agricultural, regional connection and communication purposes together with industrial power generation for new industrial site construction. These projects further serve integration of central authority rule over formerly quasi-independent regions of the country. Commentary on the socioeconomic/sociopolitical ramifications of water system infrastructure growth on Chinese 19th- and 20th-century society is presented from personal observations. Details of ancient Chinese dynastic water systems is known but much remains to be discovered as to the hydraulic technology base used in their water supply and transport system designs. Observation lessons from the success (or failure) of earlier water control projects likely provided the path toward engineering refinements but the hydraulic theory that existed and used in dynastic times is yet to be discovered. Observations of modern and ancient Asian water system designs together with commentary on the transitioning societal structure that emphasizes economic growth under sociaslist governance systems is given to provide historical perspective.
