Why did Quanzhou Port decline?

Quanzhou was a famous world trade port in the Middle Ages. However, since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Quanzhou has gradually declined, and the seaport that flourished in the past is no longer seen. Why did Quanzhou Port turn from prosperity to decline? This is described in detail below.

1. Anti-foreign trend

First of all, at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, a rebellion broke out in Quanzhou. The local Semu people attacked each other and spread to most areas of Fujian Province. It was not until the twenty-sixth year of Zhizheng that the rebellion of the Semu armed group was put down. This war caused serious damage to Quanzhou's social economy. Trade activities between Quanzhou Port and Asian and African countries are also not possible. During the war, the local residents were very dissatisfied with the rising status of outsiders, so an anti-foreign trend broke out, and many foreign merchants sailed away. This war severely damaged Quanzhou's overseas transportation, which directly led to the decline of Quanzhou Port.

2. The relocation of the Quanzhou Shipping Department to the south

Secondly, the relocation of the Quanzhou Shipping Department is also closely related to the decline of Quanzhou Port. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the ruling class attached great importance to overseas trade. Quanzhou's shipping officers conscientiously implemented the policy of opening up to the outside world, actively attracted foreign businessmen to trade in China, and strengthened the management of ships entering and leaving the port and foreign businessmen. Therefore, the Municipal Shipping Division promoted the development of Quanzhou Port, making it the largest trading port in the country and then one of the largest trading ports in the world. In the Ming Dynasty, the Shipping Department was subordinate to the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary of Fujian was located in Fuzhou, and officials in charge of the Municipal Shipping Department often went to Fuzhou. It was more convenient for Ryukyu tribute envoys to go to Fuzhou than Quanzhou. And because most of the people who handle tribute and trade in Ryukyu are Fuzhou people, they take the opportunity of paying tribute to return to their hometowns to visit relatives and friends. So in the eighth year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty, the Fujian Municipal Shipping Department moved from Quanzhou to Fuzhou. The establishment of the Municipal Shipping Department witnessed the prosperity of Quanzhou Port, while its migration marked the decline of Quanzhou Port.

3. Japanese pirates were in trouble

In addition, in the early Ming Dynasty, due to the infestation of Japanese pirates and pirates along the southeast coast, Ming Taizu wanted to maintain public order on the one hand, and on the other hand, he wanted to change the mercantile policy of the Yuan Dynasty. , reverted to the traditional agricultural policy and implemented a maritime ban. By the early Qing Dynasty, the Qing government blocked Zheng Chenggong from economic development and ordered "border relocation", forcing coastal residents to move inland. It stipulated that "no board is allowed to go into the water, and no grain of rice is allowed to cross the border." The above policies implemented in the Ming and Qing Dynasties destroyed Quanzhou's society. Economy and overseas transportation. As the saying goes, "If you rely on the mountains, you will eat the mountains, and if you rely on the sea, you will eat the sea." Maritime trade is the life of Quanzhou people. However, by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, this international trade port turned into a private trading port, which shows the negative impact of the maritime ban policy on Quanzhou Port.

In the fifteenth century, European countries such as Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy developed into colonialist countries. Their eastward invasion disrupted the east-west maritime trade and hindered Quanzhou's overseas transportation development. Coupled with the harassment and destruction of the Quanzhou area by Japanese pirates, Quanzhou Port gradually declined.

4. Geographic changes

Finally, another reason for the decline of Quanzhou Port that cannot be ignored is the geographical changes. Due to the destruction of vegetation in the Jinjiang River Basin, water and soil erosion are serious, and a large amount of sediment flows downstream and out of the sea, where it continues to accumulate. Quanzhou Port is a fast-sedimentation area, with an average annual sedimentation rate of 4.6 millimeters, which makes Quanzhou Port lose its natural conditions as an excellent port. Parts of the coastal areas of Quanzhou today were once prosperous commercial ports with flags flying from all over the world. Today, the port remains the same, but its beauty is no longer the same. Thinking about it, it's really sad.