古代刘家港崛起与衰落的探讨*

明代早期建都南京,当时贴木儿帝国崛起于中亚,一度阻断了丝绸之路,北方大运河严重淤积,明王朝只能采用海运与通过海上丝绸之路开展海内外贸易。长江河口成为南京的通海捷径,刘家港位于娄江(刘洒)与长江河口交汇处,太湖平原的东北部。娄江在宋代以前严重淤积,经元代至明初的治理,特别是明初"掣淞入刘"的整治工程后,娄江河道水深河阔,全江畅通,成为长江河口地区兴建大型海港的最佳的港址。娄江又能同富饶的太湖平原相沟通,使其成为刘家港的经济腹地。以上原因使刘家港在明初崛起,成为"海运千艘所聚"的大海港与郑和下西洋的出海始发港。明王朝迁都北京后开展大运河的治理,减少对海运的依赖,郑和下西洋终止与倭寇骚扰,均促使海运衰退。长江河口南岸严重崩塌,使刘家港崩塌入海。娄江严重淤积。以上原因导致刘家港衰落。

A STUDY ON THE CAUSES OF THE FLOURISH AND DECLINING OF THE LIUJIAGANG HARBOUR IN ANCIENT TIME

The Liujiangang Harbor is located at th Lou River(in River) Mouth,at the northeast of Taihu Plain and on the south border of Yangtze Estuary.In the Early Ming Dynasty which selected Nanjing as its capital,the Tiemuer Empire was rising in the Central Asia and the Silk Road was hindered at that time.The Ming Dynasty had to over again open up the Maritime Silk Road to develop foreign trade.Before the Middle Yaun Dynasty,the historical record Showed that sediments were deposited in the Lou River.The water depth in the channel was getting shallow,and it is difficult to built harbour and navigation Channels.Owing to the fact that in Ming Dyansity the Lou River was regulated, the water depth for harbour and navigation was improved.In the short Perid of the Early Ming Dyansty the Lou River had the best coditions for builting harbours in the region of the Yangtze River.The facts mentioned above resulted in the flourish of the Liujiagang Harbour which became the departure harbour of Zheng He's sailing to the west Ocean.In the Middel Ming Dynasty,the south bank of the Yangtze Estuary collapsed because of erosion by water flow and tide,and the Liujiangang Harbour and the Liujiahe Town were collapsed.At the same time,the Lou River had a serious deposition.Zheng He's sailing to the West Ocean was ended.In the Middle and Later Ming Dynasty,the coasts of China were barassed by the Japanese pirates,and the Grand Canal was repaired and reopeaned for water transport.All these led to the declining of the Liujiagang Harbour.