Fernandez-Gimenez and Allen-Diaz,“Testing a Non-equilibrium Model of
Rangeland,” 871 – 85.
38 Wang Zhigang,“Central Inner Mongolia,” 88 ; Committee on Scholarly
Communication,Grasslands and Grassland Sciences, 188 – 89. For some rep-
resentative Chinese views, which tend to focus on anthropogenic factors, see
Da Lintai,“Zhidu yu zhengce,” 176 – 215 , Lin Wenping and Gao Minjie,
“Neimenggu caoyuan shengtai huifu,” 32 – 35. For a view critical of Chinese
perspectives, see Williams,Beyond Great Walls, 41 – 44.
39 The Manchu unit of measureurgun(orurhun) is roughly equal to 0. 5 of a
traditional Chinese inch (cun), which in the Qing was the equivalent of about
- 75 centimeters ( 0. 69 inches). Thus the length of the grass was approximately
- 25 – 7 centimeters ( 2. 07 – 2. 76 inches). MWLF, QL 13 /i.c. 7 / 13 [ 03 - 171 -
0372 – 005 ]. Such reports, whose basic format appears standardized, also
emphasized the necessity for rainwater to soak thoroughly into the ground;
MWLF, QL 9 / 5 / 25 [ 03 - 172 - 0676 - 001 ], QL 12 / 5 / 27 [ 03 - 172 - 0680 - 001 ], QL
17 / 5 / 27 [ 03 - 171 - 0378 - 007 ].
40 For an overview of the relations between Inner Mongolian climate and natural
disaster during the Qing, see Yu Zhiyong,“Qingdai Neimenggu diqu de ziran
zaihai,” 35 – 40.
41 MWLF, QL 14 / 3 / 28 [ 03 - 0172 - 0682 - 005 ].
42 For studies of disaster relief mainly focused on China proper, see Will, Bur-
eaucracy and Famine; Li,Fighting Famine; Li Xiangjun,Qingdai huangzheng
yanjiu; He Zhiqing, ed.,Zhongguo gudai zaihai; Cao Shuji, ed.,Tianzu you
shen. Literature on natural disasters in Qing China is reviewed in Zhu Hu,
“Ershi shiji Qingdai zaihuang,” 104 – 19.
43 MWLF, YZ 11 / 6 / 3 [ 03 - 0173 - 1034 - 007 ], 11 / 6 / 26 [ 03 - 0172 - 0598 - 003 ], 11 / 8 /
28 [ 03 - 0173 - 1032 - 021 ]. Oneshi, the standard Chinese measure for grain
volume, is roughly equal to 2. 8 bushels or one hectoliter.
44 Will,Bureaucracy and Famine, 129. Of course, state relief also had to adapt to
environmental variation in China proper;ibid., 129 – 30.
45 Dunstan,“Heirs of Yu the Great,” 523 ; Will,Bureaucracy and Famine, 5 – 6 ;
Da Qing Huidian shili(GX), 10 : 1229 a. The high Qing state assumed new,
direct responsibilities for relief that had previously been in local purview; Li,
Fighting Famine, 222.
46 Da Qing Huidian shili(GX), 10 : 1229 a. Compare an almost verbatim version
inMenggu lüli, 2 : 11.
47 MWLF, YZ 11 / 6 / 3 [ 03 - 0173 - 1034 - 007 ], 11 / 6 / 26 [ 03 - 0172 - 0598 - 003 ]. The
precedent cases cited in theDa Qing huidian shili(GX) contain only one instance
of state provision of livestock, again from penalty holdings; 10 : 1231 a. Yu
Zhiyong,“Qingdai Neimenggu xibu diqu de huangzheng,” 32 – 36 , asserts the
Qing state did provide livestock directly but cites no specificcases.
48 Kangxichao Manwen zhupi,# 2784 , 1103.
49 MWLF, YZ 12 / 4 / 20 [ 03 - 173 - 1039 - 003 ].
50 MWLF, YZ 10 / 12 /? [ 03 - 211 - 4595 - 003 ]. This document makes provisions for
five sheep and one ox per household. Another document provided single males
with one“large”head of livestock andfive sheep; MWLF, YZ 10 / 10 / 13 [ 03 -
173 - 1028 - 018 ].