Division of Hunan and Hubei Provinces in the Qing Dynasty: Pragmatism in the Unity of Heaven and Governance

Abstract

Climatic impacts have been closely related to the governance of ancient China as stated by the traditional philosophy of the unity of heaven and man. In this study, the division of Hubei and Hunan Provinces in the Qing Dynasty is statistically reviewed as the first attempt in accordance with the agricultural harvests in Hubei and Hunan Provinces and different climatic factors in the eighteenth century until the division of the two provinces finally gained official acceptance. According to numerical results, the two provinces are affected by different climatic factors: precipitation, Asian summer monsoon, and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation are significant for Hubei Province, whereas temperature is significant for Hunan Province. This study shows that “heaven” should be taken as a key concept in the interpretation of culture and politics in ancient China, a view empirically supported further by statistical analysis on the linkages between climate and agrarian economy in Hubei and Hunan Provinces. By considering the unity of nature and governance, pragmatism could be traced back to the Qing Dynasty, which could possibly have a significant influence on the ecological civilization of current Chinese society. Key Words: climate, heaven, Hubei and Hunan Provinces, pragmatism, Qing Dynasty.