Assessment of Japanese and Chinese Flood Control Policies

Abstract

優れた治水政策は，頻繁する洪水を防ぐ為に歴史的に非常に重要な役割を果たしてきた。中国治水史は大禹らの治水対策から始まり、4000年以上の歴史があると考えられる。日本の文化は中国の文化と類似する点が多くあるが、治水に対しては異なるアプローチを用いてきている。 1660年以降の土木技術の高度化で、治水面では主としてダム、堤防、その他の治水施設の建設により達成されている。 しかし、これらの構造物のみに頼る治水政策では洪水被害を完全に食い止めることはできない。本研究では、両国の治水史変遷の相互比較を通じてあるべき治水対策を評価する。

The flood is one of the world's most dangerous natural disasters that cause immense damage and accounts for a large number of deaths and damage world-wide. Good flood control policies play an extremely important role in preventing frequent floods. It is well known that China has more than 5000 years history and flood control policies and measure have been conducted since the time of Yu the great and his father's reign. Japan's culture is similar to China's but took different approaches to flood control. Under the high speed development of civil engineering technology after 1660, flood control was achieved primarily through the construction of dams, dykes and other structures. However, these structures never fully stopped floods from occurring. In this research, we present an overview of flood control policies, assess the benefit of the different policies, and contribute to a better understanding of flood control.