The Nature of Disaster in China

The 1931 Yangzi River Flood

Chris Courtney (University of Cambridge)

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English

Cambridge University Press
19 December 2019

Asian history; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Social impact of disasters; Natural disasters

Series: Studies in Environment and History

In 1931, China suffered a catastrophic flood that claimed millions of lives. This was neither a natural nor human-made disaster. Rather, it was created by an interaction between the environment and society. Regular inundation had long been an integral feature of the ecology and culture of the middle Yangzi, yet by the modern era floods had become humanitarian catastrophes. Courtney describes how the ecological and economic effects of the 1931 flood pulse caused widespread famine and epidemics. He takes readers into the inundated streets of Wuhan, describing the terrifying and disorientating sensory environment. He explains why locals believed that an angry Dragon King was causing the flood, and explores how Japanese invasion and war with the Communists inhibited both official relief efforts and refugee coping strategies. This innovative study offers the first in-depth analysis of the 1931 flood, and charts the evolution of one of China's most persistent environmental problems.

By: Chris Courtney (University of Cambridge)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 230mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 400g
ISBN: 9781108405799
ISBN 10: 1108405797
Series: Studies in Environment and History
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 19 December 2019
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction; 1. The Long River长江; 2. The flood pulse; 3. The Dragon King龙王; 4. A sense of disaster; 5. Disaster experts; 6. The floating population; Epilogue.

Chris Courtney is an environmental and social historian of modern China. He has lived for over five years in the city of Wuhan, and is passionate about the history and culture of the region. Having completed his Ph.D. at the University of Manchester, he was awarded research fellowships at Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge, and at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore.

Reviews for The Nature of Disaster in China: The 1931 Yangzi River Flood

'Among the welcome deluge of works on the environmental history of rivers in China, Courtney's work is distinctive in being able to bring the multiple dimensions, such as the hydrological, agricultural, local, political and not least, the cosmological and religious - within the optic he calls 'disaster regimes'. It is an innovative idea that can help guide the increasingly important field of disaster studies.' Prasenjit Duara, Oscar Tang Professor, Duke University, North Carolina 'This is a marvelous book. Courtney examines the massive but often-overlooked Yangzi River Flood of 1931 from environmental, ecological, institutional, cultural, social, and sensory perspectives, and delves into topics as varied as snail fever and the Dragon King cult. The Nature of Disaster greatly enriches our understanding of flooding in Nationalist China, and makes an important and timely contribution to the broader field of Chinese disaster studies.' Kathryn Edgerton-Tarpley, San Diego State University 'Courtney employs a multidimensional perspective that benefits from new trends in environmental history, as well as the more conventional institutional and political approaches of historians ... Each of these six cleverly researched and well-written histories of the 1931 flood presents insights of great interest ...' Lillian M. Li, Journal of Interdisciplinary History