Abstract

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Title:: A Preliminary Study on Water Conservancy Law of ShanshanKingdom from the Third to Fifth Century

Abstract:: According to the unearthed documents, the water conservancy of Shanshan Kingdom was underthe unified control of the state. Because of the relative shortage of water resources, the management of waterresources by the government was very strict. When and how many times the irrigation was done was basicallydetermined by the agricultural needs. In the name of offering sacrifices to“ virtuous and good river gods” , thestate collected water fees from water users. Typically, the amount of the fees charged was equivalent to theprice of a cow. The state selected a special officia“l priest” to manage water conservancy sacrifices. Comparedwith Dunhuang Water Use Rules and the regulations issued by the Ministry of Water in the late Tang Dynasty,the water conservancy law of Shanshan Kingdom shows some similarities, but it is far less detailed andcomprehensive than that of the Tang Dynasty.