Problems and countermeasures of water culture construction in China from the comparison between China and foreign countries

(Hohai University School of Management)

Since 1980s, the research on water culture has attracted the attention of water conservancy industry and academic and cultural circles, and the research has been deepened. No matter in exploring the national water cultural heritage or summing up practical experience, it has achieved certain theoretical results and provided spiritual impetus for the development of water conservancy. In order to further promote the healthy development of water culture, we should broaden our international horizons, examine the construction of water culture in China from the perspective of comparison between China and foreign countries, and reasonably learn from foreign advanced experiences and lessons. From the comparative study of water culture at home and abroad, the work that needs to be strengthened in the construction of water culture in China is mainly reflected in the following five aspects:

First, enhance the cultural connotation of water conservancy projects.

A successful water conservancy project is a combination of technology and materials in form, and its connotation always embodies the concept of harmony between people and water and the concept of sustainable development. Water conservancy projects should not only have economic benefits such as flood control, power generation, shipping and irrigation, but also pay attention to social benefits such as ecological environment problems of water conservancy projects and pleasant functions of the projects themselves. For a long time, the construction of water conservancy projects is often limited to the structural design and the exertion of traditional functions, paying more attention to the technical problems of the project itself and less attention to the cultural connotation of the project and the requirements of social environment and ecological diversity. Such projects often bring economic benefits, but they also leave some far-reaching social problems.

The world-famous Aswan Dam was once the largest reservoir in the world and the pride of the Egyptians. It has achieved remarkable results in flood control, irrigation and power generation, and played a very obvious role in breeding, expanding planting area and increasing grain output. However, due to the limitation of understanding, there is a lack of scientific demonstration and analysis on the negative impact of sediment deposition on the Nile River Basin. After the completion of the dam, the negative impact gradually appeared, and the sediment deposition was serious. "It has caused a certain degree of adverse impact on the water environment and ecology, mainly manifested in soil salinization, water quality deterioration in different degrees, aquatic living environment change in different degrees, and cultural relics and landscapes destruction" [1]. This caused Egyptians to reflect on Aswan Dam. Similar examples can provide profound reference for China's water conservancy projects.

At all times, excellent water conservancy projects not only reflect the superb technical level, but also contain advanced ideas and cultural spirit. This kind of water conservancy project has profound cultural connotation, so it has the benefit of sustainable development. Dujiangyan water conservancy project in ancient China is a typical example. Dujiangyan water conservancy project, which was established 256 years ago, is the oldest and still plays a great role in the world today. Its characteristic is that there is no dam to divert water. This project scientifically solves the problems of automatic river diversion, automatic sediment discharge and automatic water control. Under the premise of not destroying natural resources, it has achieved a high degree of coordination and unity among people, land and water, and has become the best mode of water resources utilization in the world. Water conservancy projects in China in 2 1 century should break the traditional thinking mode, give full play to the cultural function of water conservancy projects, further improve the carrying capacity of water conservancy projects to ecology and culture, realize the organic combination of water conservancy projects with water ecology, water environment and water landscape, infiltrate cultural elements into water conservancy projects, embody the cultural connotation of modern water conservancy projects and highlight the cultural function of water conservancy projects. This is an inevitable requirement for developing modern water conservancy and adhering to the road of sustainable development. According to the specific natural conditions, we should expand the functions of water conservancy projects, not only in flood control, irrigation, shipping, power generation, but also in aquaculture, leisure tourism and other aspects, so that water conservancy projects can exert the greatest economic, social and ecological benefits and form a trinity engineering model of economic, social and ecological benefits. The Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project in China has absorbed the experience and lessons of Aswan Dam and other water conservancy projects, and carried out detailed scientific demonstration from the aspects of engineering quality, flood control and sediment discharge, environmental ecology, etc., making the Three Gorges Project a long-term sustainable project for benefiting the people. This is a model of contemporary water conservancy projects in China, and also a model of practical research on water control in China.

Second, strengthen the protection of water cultural heritage.

Water cultural heritage is the embodiment of a country's culture and an image teaching material recognized by the country. In recent years, China has gradually realized the historical importance of water cultural heritage, and the protection of water cultural heritage has been gradually carried out, and some water cultural heritage has been developed, protected and utilized, such as Dujiangyan water conservancy project and Lingqu. The country is also working hard to promote the application for the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and Karez in Xinjiang is also included in the protection object. However, we should also be soberly aware that compared with China's rich and colorful water cultural heritage, the current efforts in sorting out, excavating and protecting the water cultural heritage are not enough. Due to the lack of protection and management, some ancient water conservancy projects gradually lost their true colors or even disappeared. For example, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has lost some of its shipping functions, the number of karez wells in Xinjiang is also decreasing, and some towns famous for their water have disappeared, leaving only some relics for people to mourn.

South Korea's measures to transform Cheonggyecheon contain rich cultural connotations and profound enlightenment. Cheonggyecheon was originally an ancient river that passed through Seoul, South Korea. Later, it was covered as an underground river, and an elevated road was built on it. But then I realized the disadvantages of losing natural rivers, so I began to re-plan the construction of Qingxichuan. The concept of Qingxichuan reconstruction project is: "In order to completely solve the safety hidden trouble, the viaduct will be demolished to make the city center more beautiful;" Dig out the Qingxi River that has been submerged for more than 40 years, build a brand-new urban natural river course, reshape an urban riverside cultural space where people live in harmony with nature, and completely change the city appearance; Using the outer ring road to solve the original traffic crossing the city, transforming underground waterways into urban natural rivers, improving the urban atmospheric environment and building a green city; Restore the long history and culture of Qingxichuan, especially the ancient bridge with important historical significance, build the urban culture of riverside, and provide a place for citizens to enjoy history and culture during leisure; Improving the surrounding environment and promoting the adjustment of industrial structure will provide the region with space for financial industry, cultural industry, fashion industry and tourism to compete for promotion wars, and provide development opportunities for becoming a new economic center, thus improving the city's taste and international competitiveness. " [2] Now Cheonggyecheon has become a symbol of Seoul's "eco-city" and a place for citizens to relax. It is the relay point and incentive point of Korean history, reminding Koreans not to forget history, face the present and look forward to the future. This has positive reference significance for the construction of urban water conservancy projects in China.

France is also a country with a long history of water culture, paying special attention to the protection of water cultural heritage. The protection of the Midi Canal is an example. The Midi Canal was built in the period of Louis XIV, and 1996 was listed as a world cultural heritage. The canal not only has practical functions, but also symbolizes the strength of the French empire in the17th century. The protection design of Midi Canal pays attention to the impact of the project on the landscape, creating a beautiful landscape along the canal. Midi Canal perfectly combines aesthetic and practical functions, forming its own unique culture and tradition. In this regard, the government first affirmed and protected it from the law. There is a special chapter in the Regulations on Public Waters and Canals that regulates the management of the Midi Canal. Midi canal is also the only French waterway with special provisions in the Regulations. These powerful protective measures make midi canal one of the symbols of French canal culture.

Water cultural heritage is an important symbol of a nation or country's culture. The protection of cultural monuments brings not only economic and social benefits, but also an important symbol of cultural identity and cultural cohesion of a nation or country, the internal spiritual support of national unity and social stability, and the embodiment of national soft power. At present, in the protection of water cultural heritage, it is necessary to improve the understanding of the importance of water cultural heritage and raise it to the height of national cultural construction. Carry out water cultural heritage survey, find out the quantity, distribution and living conditions of water cultural heritage in China, and formulate corresponding strategies for existing problems. It is necessary to unify the development, utilization and protection of water cultural heritage and prevent the phenomenon of only developing and utilizing water cultural heritage without protecting it. At the same time, it is necessary to formulate relevant laws and regulations to protect the water cultural heritage, and protect the water cultural heritage according to law.

Third, further improve water laws and regulations.

After the founding of New China, a number of water laws and regulations, such as People's Republic of China (PRC) Soil and Water Conservation Law, People's Republic of China (PRC) Flood Control Law and People's Republic of China (PRC) Water Law, were successively formulated, and a legal system of water management was initially formed. However, it can not meet the needs of water control, water use, water conservation and water saving, and lacks a complete water legal system from exploration and design to construction, from project completion to subsequent use, maintenance and management. In practice, the situation of managing water according to law has not yet been fully formed.

In the formulation of water laws and regulations, the practices of some countries are worth learning. South Africa is a country short of water. In order to strengthen water resources management and protect limited water resources, South Africa has established a very complete system of water laws and regulations. The Water Law was first enacted in 1956, and was revised several times later. 197 1 year, the water research law was promulgated. From 65438 to 0977, the government promulgated the National Water Resources Policy, and later promulgated a series of water laws and regulations. These laws and regulations embody the principle that water resources are owned by the people and managed by the state in a unified way. Any organization or individual has only the right to use water resources, or is authorized to use them, but does not have ownership. Any right to use water resources obtained according to laws and regulations on water resources should be temporary; Everyone has the right to basic water supply, which is a basic human right; We must fully understand the unity of the water cycle system, and its components are interrelated. The basic unit of water resources research and management is watershed. [3] South Africa's philosophy in formulating water laws and regulations is that water is a scarce resource, and the right to use water and the obligation to protect water are complementary. This is also an idea that China should absorb and learn from in the construction of water laws and regulations.

Formulating standardized and complete water conservancy laws and regulations is the institutional guarantee to promote the healthy and orderly development of water conservancy. Strengthening the construction of contemporary water conservancy laws and regulations is one of the important and urgent tasks to promote the development of water conservancy. To improve and perfect water laws and regulations, we should pay attention to the following aspects: first, improve the existing water laws and regulations, and constantly supplement and revise them in practice to meet the needs of social development; Secondly, new water laws and regulations should be formulated, from the planning, construction, use and subsequent protection of water projects, from the development of water resources to daily industrial water, agricultural water and civil water, from the right to use water to the obligation to save and protect water, from the protection of cultural heritage to the protection of modern water cultural achievements. Thirdly, it is necessary to raise water laws and regulations to the national level, strictly control water according to law, and severely punish law enforcement personnel. Improve water control laws and regulations, strictly enforce the law, and realize water control according to law.

Fourthly, cultivate the consciousness and habit of love the water, water saving and water saving in the whole society.

The shortage of water resources has become an international concern, and more than half of the countries in the world are short of water or seriously short of water. In order to cope with the shortage of water resources, many countries educate the public through various channels, and form the concepts and habits of love the water, water conservation and water protection. China is also a water-deficient country, and the task of saving water is very arduous. However, in practice, the awareness of water saving in the whole society has not been generally formed. In daily production and life, we pursue economic benefits while ignoring social benefits. "I bought water, so I can use it as I want." It is not uncommon to waste, pollute and destroy water resources.

Egypt is one of the countries with extremely short water resources in the world, but people's production and life have not been greatly affected by it, which is attributed to the water-saving movement advocated by the Egyptian government and the formation of public water-saving concepts. In 2003, Egypt launched the "Save Drinking Water for All" campaign in eight provinces, and gradually extended it to other regions. Egypt's national water-saving campaign includes: relevant departments raise people's awareness of water saving, especially children and housewives, through lectures and training, so that they can master various effective water-saving methods and put an end to the waste of water resources; Restrict industrial water use, especially punish large enterprises that waste water. This activity was strongly supported by the United Nations and achieved the goal of reducing drinking water consumption in Egypt by 40% within two years. [4] In terms of effective utilization of water resources, the practice of the United States is relatively successful. In addition to the refined management of the government, people regard water conservation as a kind of educated performance. People have closely linked water conservation with environmental protection, and attaching importance to environmental protection has become one of the important symbols reflecting the cultural literacy level of the American people. The American people's strong water-saving consciousness has formed a water-saving culture in the whole society. [5]

China should learn from foreign advanced experience in water saving. While promoting water-saving appliances, water-saving technologies and other material means, and using institutional means such as water price and water right management, we should also give full play to the educational role of spiritual culture, popularize water-saving education to the whole society, go deep into everyone's heart, and cultivate and improve the awareness and habits of water-saving in the whole society. In school education, water culture education should be included in the school curriculum, and it should be included in the formal teaching track by offering compulsory courses or elective courses. In terms of social education, we should carry out various water culture activities, build a water culture education platform, carry out various tourism festivals and cultural festivals with water as the theme, cooperate with school education and the dissemination of news media, and cultivate good habits of saving water, love the water and protecting water through the popularization of water culture knowledge and water culture practice activities. Establish and commend water-saving demonstration units, expand social influence with practical examples, form radiation effect, absorb advanced foreign experience in water culture education, and improve the educational effect of water culture activities.

Five, strengthen the international communication and exchange of water culture research.

With the global shortage of water resources becoming increasingly prominent, the study of water culture has gradually attracted the attention of the international community, and international exchanges have become increasingly frequent. 1993 65438+1October 18. The 47th United Nations General Assembly designated March 22nd as World Water Day. Water-related world festivals include World Wetlands Day on February 2nd, World Environment Day on June 5th and World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought on June 6th. 1996, the World Water Council, composed of experts and scholars on water issues and relevant international institutions, was established and decided to hold a large-scale international conference, the World Water Forum, every three years before and after World Water Day. From 65438 to 0999, under the advocacy and coordination of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Council (IHP) of UNESCO, the International Water History Association was formally established. The purpose of this association is to promote and deepen the understanding of the role of water in the development of human civilization, and to promote human understanding and concern about water. The topic of social concern is not only the historical process of human transformation of water environment, but also the role of water in the formation of human civilization and the relationship between water and social, economic and cultural development of people of different nationalities, countries and cultural backgrounds. All these indicate that the international community is paying more and more attention to the relationship between water and culture. [6]

At present, some achievements have been made in the study of water culture in China, but there is still much room for development in the dissemination of academic achievements. The use of modern media is not enough, the communication channels are not smooth, and the mode of communication is relatively simple.

China's research on water culture should go global and show the glory of China's water culture on the international stage. Besides continuing to publish water culture works and establishing water culture publications and websites, we should also actively expand communication channels, innovate communication carriers, actively participate in organizing international water culture forums and water culture exchanges, and further increase the international communication and exchange of water culture in China. It is gratifying that initial achievements have been made in this regard. In September 2005, the International Society of History and Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences jointly held an international conference on water culture and water environmental protection in Kunming. Experts and scholars from China, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Japan and other countries brought their latest research results on water culture and water environment. In March 2006, the first China Water Culture Summit Forum with the theme of "Water, People and Harmonious Society" was held in the Great Hall of the People, sponsored by the World Water Culture Research Association and the Public Nutrition Development Center of the National Development and Reform Commission. The forum adopted the Declaration of Beijing Water Culture. An international symposium on water and cultural diversity was held in Kyoto, Japan from June 5 to 38, 2009 to 10. The forum aims to promote the international exchange of water culture, improve the understanding of water culture by government departments and the whole society, and accelerate the construction of water culture. In these international water culture seminars, there are ideological achievements contributed by China scholars.

In the process of building a harmonious society, the water problem has increasingly become the focus of the whole society, and the construction of water culture is facing a more arduous task. On the basis of existing achievements, researchers of water culture should face up to the shortcomings in the research and construction of water culture with a positive attitude, meet the challenges of water shortage and water environment deterioration with a pioneering and innovative attitude, continuously promote the in-depth development of water culture research and construction in China, realize the harmony between people and water, and promote the sustainable development of society.

refer to

Zhu Tierong, Yang,, et al. Influence of Aswan water control project on ecological environment. Hubei Hydropower, 2004(4):78

[2] Jun Guo. Reconstruction of Qingxichuan: Close Contact between Regional Water Culture and Urban Rivers. China water resources news, 2005- 10- 15(4)

[3] Lin Xingchao. Water resources management in South Africa and Egypt. Groundwater, 2007 (6):2

[4] Huang Peizhao. Egypt's water-saving farmers are exempt from paying water charges. Rural Work Newsletter, 2005 (1):56

[5] Jin Ming. Foreign water-saving measures. China Information News, May 2, 20081(8)

[6] Zheng Xiaoyun. Water culture in an international perspective. China Water Conservancy, 2009(22):28