Introduction to a Vanishing Landscape

The Ying River, known historically as the Ying Shui, stands as the largest tributary of the Huai River system following the hydrological shifts of the Ru River. Originating from the sacred Songshan Mountains near modern Dengfeng in Henan province, it flows approximately 600 kilometers southeast before merging with the Huai River near Yingshang in Anhui. This river system, documented with remarkable precision in Li Daoyuan’s 6th-century masterpiece “Commentary on the Water Classic,” reveals a landscape dramatically different from what exists today. Through Li’s eyes, we glimpse not merely waterways, but living entities that shaped human settlement, spiritual practices, and administrative boundaries across central China.

The Seasonal Nature of Tributaries

The Wei River , the hydrological reality differed significantly. Had the river been as diminished as it is today—stretching a mere seventy kilometers with inconsistent flow—it would scarcely have warranted documentation in Li’s comprehensive survey. This contrast between past and present flow patterns illustrates the dramatic environmental transformations that have occurred over fifteen centuries.

The Lost Waterways of Central China

Two smaller tributaries, the Yi River , have largely disappeared from modern consciousness. The Yi River originated west of Xuchang in Henan, flowing southeast to merge with the Qingliu River near Xihua Xiaoyao before joining the Ying River. Similarly insignificant in length, the Zhen River served as a minor tributary to the Wei River. Both waterways have vanished from all but the most detailed contemporary maps, their historical presence preserved only through textual records. This disappearance reflects a broader pattern of hydrological simplification throughout the Huai River basin, where numerous minor waterways have been lost to environmental change and human modification.

The Naming Controversy of the Qu River

The Qu River, a tributary of the Huai, presents intriguing philological challenges. The Wuying Palace edition of “Commentary on the Water Classic” lists it simply as “Qu” in the table of contents, yet the chapter heading adds the smaller characters “Sha Shui” beneath the main title. This inconsistency between general and sectional directories appears only in this instance within the palace edition. Later commentators adopted varying approaches: Zhao Yiqing’s “Annotations to the Commentary on the Water Classic” referred to it as “Sha Shui,” while Yang Shoujing and Xiong Huizhen’s “Subcommentary on the Water Classic” used the compound “Qu Sha Shui.” This nomenclature confusion stems from the river’s connection to the ancient Hong Gou canal system, where naming conventions frequently overlapped and evolved. The scholarly debate surrounding this single watercourse exemplifies the complexities inherent in reconstructing historical hydrology from medieval texts.

The Five Crossings Water: A Case Study in Historical Hydrology

The Ying River flows eastward, receiving the waters of the Wudu Shui , which originates from the eastern streams of Mount Taishi northeast of Chonggao County. Established by Emperor Wu of Han specifically to administer the sacred Mount Taishi, the county was colloquially known as Songyang City. During spring and summer rains, water cascaded from the mountain peak in successive torrents, with cliff streams connecting to form twenty-eight distinct channels. Even during droughts, the stone pools never completely dried, though travelers would only dare to drink from them—never bathing or washing within their waters. Local tradition held that violation of this prohibition would bring several days of illness, making travelers appropriately cautious.

Below the mountain spread a large pool spanning several li, remarkable for its clarity and depth. Within these waters stood a stone column rising over ten zhang , with a flat top measuring twenty paces across. Both monastic and lay visitors would often boat to this natural monument and climb upon it to appreciate the serene landscape. The water southeast of Yangcheng West flowed through stone channels with such winding曲折 that upstream travelers had to cross it five times, hence its name. This detailed description clearly derives from Li Daoyuan’s personal investigation, demonstrating his methodology of concluding with explanatory nomenclature that provides satisfying clarity to readers.

The Monumental Excess of Zhang Boya

Further downstream, the river passed the tomb of Zhang Boya, Governor of Hongnong during the Han dynasty. The burial complex featured stone walls enclosing the precinct, with corner towers diminishing in height toward the perimeter, all positioned north of the Sui River. Two stone que gates marked the entrance, flanked by paired stone animals guarding the approach. Before the burial mound stood a stone temple with three inscribed steles identifying the deceased as Zhang De, style name Boya, from Mi County in Henan. The stele sides featured carved stone figures, with additional stone pillars and animals completing the arrangement.

Most remarkably, architects had channeled the Sui River southward into the cemetery to create ornamental ponds positioned according to geomantic principles. Stone conduits directed water through carved toad spouts into stone channels. South of the pools stood additional stone towers and temples, preceded by rows of sculpted animals. Li Daoyuan notes that despite this grandeur, time had left most features “decayed and nearly completely destroyed.” His commentary turns moralistic: “Wealth without righteousness is compared to floating clouds—how much more so this extravagance?” The contrast with simpler burials of wiser men like Wang Sun and Shi An serves as implicit criticism of Zhang’s conspicuous consumption in death.

The Larger Pattern of Hydrological Change

The entire survey of the Huai River system reveals substantial changes between ancient and modern hydrography. The overarching pattern shows river channel migration, reduction of tributaries and lakes, and overall diminishment of water bodies. This phenomenon extends beyond the Huai River basin to represent a nationwide issue in China’s aquatic ecosystems. The historical record preserved in “Commentary on the Water Classic” provides invaluable baseline data for understanding these transformations, which result from both natural processes and human intervention including deforestation, agriculture, and water management projects.

Cultural and Social Dimensions of Water Management

The detailed descriptions of the Ying River system reveal profound cultural relationships with waterways in medieval China. Rivers served not merely as physical features but as spiritual entities, administrative boundaries, and economic arteries. The sacred associations of Mount Taishi’s streams, the taboos surrounding their pools, and the recreational use of the stone column in the mountain pool all demonstrate complex cultural engagement with the hydrological landscape. Similarly, the channeling of the Sui River for aesthetic purposes in Zhang Boya’s tomb complex illustrates how human manipulation of water reflected both status and spiritual beliefs about the afterlife.

Methodological Contributions of Li Daoyuan

Li’s work established new standards for geographical writing through its combination of empirical observation, historical documentation, and literary elegance. His description of the Five Crossings Water exemplifies this approach: beginning with physical origins, moving through seasonal characteristics, addressing cultural practices, explaining nomenclature, and finally confirming its connection to the larger river system. This systematic yet engaging presentation transformed geographical writing from mere cataloguing into a rich interdisciplinary field connecting physical landscape, human activity, and historical development.

Modern Relevance and Environmental Implications

The vanished waterways documented in “Commentary on the Water Classic” hold significant implications for contemporary environmental management. The simplification of river networks, disappearance of minor tributaries, and reduction of overall water volume present challenges for water resource management, flood control, and ecological preservation. Historical documentation provides crucial evidence for restoration efforts, helping environmental scientists understand predisturbance conditions and establish appropriate recovery targets. The case of the Wei River’s transformation from perennial flow to seasonal existence illustrates how historical records can inform modern conservation strategies.

Conclusion: Reading the Palimpsest of Landscape

The Ying River system, as documented in Li Daoyuan’s masterpiece, represents a palimpsest upon which both natural processes and human activities have written successive layers of change. Through careful study of these historical hydrologies, we gain not only understanding of past environments but also wisdom for addressing present challenges. The vanished streams, the shifted channels, and the diminished flows all tell a story of landscape transformation that continues to unfold. In preserving these records, Li provided future generations with indispensable tools for reading this complex hydrological history and for imagining more sustainable relationships with these vital water systems.