Masonry Technology of Water Conservancy Projects in Southeastern China in Song Dynasty

Abstract

This paper studies the use and progress of masonry technology of water conservancy projects in Southeast China in Song Dynasty from the perspective of technology history and the historical perspective of compound ecosystem. First of all, one of the changes in water conservancy projects’ materials in Song Dynasty was that stone gradually replaced wood and earth, and stone structures became more and more the key components of water conservancy projects. Second, people used masonry technology and woodworking technology together.When constructing the foundation of a dam, people chose woodworking technology to deal with soft soil, and sometimes they chose masonry technology; the choice of technology was not only restricted by natural conditions,but also by socio-economic conditions as well. Third, the widespread use of lime mortar reflected the process of masonry technology. Finally, the huge demand for stone materials in water conservancy projects promoted people to improve the stone mining technology, and it also attracted a large number of laborers to engage in quarrying activities. What’s more, the quarrying industry provided sufficient stones for water conservancy projects.