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The relationship between social factors and the formation of exported mug designs is blurred. This study addresses how they influence material design. Based on a quantitative typological analysis, this paper interprets the cultural relationships underlying the evolution of mug designs exported during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The study reveals: (1) the typology and handle styles of mugs can be categorized into six types, with a predominance of Cylindrical bodies and Ear-shaped handles. Notably, artistic emphasis is concentrated on Bulbous cup bodies and Tail outward curved handles; (2) the design of mugs in the eighteenth century exhibited diversity, morphological similarities, and feature continuity, evolving from representational (Ming Dynasty) to abstract and then to minimalistic styles (Qing Dynasty), particularly evident in the three-dimensional modeling of handles for ergonomic comfort (transitioning from a singular Outward curved form to Ear-shaped form, and then to Entwined branch form); (3) the body shape of mugs transformed from Arc-barrel bodies to Bulbous bodies (focusing on heat retention), and eventually to Cylindrical bodies (prioritizing heat retention, practicality, and cost-efficiency).; (4) the volume of mugs steadily increased from the early eighteenth century, generally classified into large volume (≥ 500 ml), medium volume (200-499 ml), and small volume (< 200 ml); (5) considering the extreme range of volume (11090 ml) and height (25 cm), it indicates that these two variables do not necessarily have a direct positive correlation; (6) the low center of gravity in handle design (average width of 3.4 cm against an average height of 9.9 cm for the body) reflects considerations for the distribution of liquid weight and operational convenience. The volume of sample-10 (11127 ml) notably exceeds the typical range for tea-drinking utensils, revealing the mechanism of wealth and status symbolism. Market demand orientation emerged as the primary driver for the evolution of export mug designs during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with adjustments in the merchant system playing a secondary role. The transformation in mug design reflects the interplay of multiple factors, with the trend toward minimalist design being a response to market demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yangmingism, a crucial component of Chinese Confucianism, has profoundly impacted the development of Eastern civilization throughout history and gained new significance within modern contexts. This study employs social network and GIS spatial analyses to investigate the spatio-temporal evolution and patterns of Yangmingism during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Conclusions drawn include: (1) Yangmingism spread during the Ming and Qing dynasties followed five phases (rise-peak-decline-revival-trough), consistent with general cultural diffusion processes. (2) The spatial structure of regions accepting Yangmingism changed from polycentric to localized ribbon-polycentric, then to monocentric, polycentric, and ultimately, fragmented distribution. Diffusion began with a point-axis structure along traffic routes, transitioned to a core-periphery spatial structure, and returned to a point-axis structure due to reduced diffusion potential energy. (3) Yangmingism diffusion exhibited distance decay characteristics, with the most extensive diffusion in the Han cultural region, primarily located within the middle and lower reaches of the Ganjiang River basin and the Yangtze River Delta. (4) Yangmingism diffusion reflected influences from local administrative hierarchies and cultural development. During the rise-to-peak phase, Yangmingism reached areas with higher administrative and cultural levels, while during the peak-to-decline phase, it disseminated from higher to lower hierarchy regions. (5) The spatial diffusion of Yangmingism is mainly relocation diffusion, followed by expansion diffusion. In the process of relocation diffusion, Yangmingism may reverse the diffusion from the "target regions" to the "source regions" due to the influence of the radiation of the high-ranking regions and the cultural innovation of the "target regions". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of channel evolutions and the causes is important for reconstructing the evolutionary history of river landforms. This study aimed to elucidate the downstream channel evolution of the Yuan River in Hunan Province, China, during the Qing Dynasty via Landsat 8 satellite image data and relevant literature. The objective was to establish the modes of channel evolution and discuss the significance of historical climate change. The downstream paleochannel of the Yuan River was identified in the Late Ming Dynasty and Early Qing Dynasty (1600–1644 AD), the Kangxi-Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty (1661–1796 AD), the Late Qing Dynasty (1840–1912 AD), and the World War II (1939–1945 AD), and three main modes of river evolution were determined. Using remote sensing data and the ancient literature, the evolution characteristics of the paleochannel in the Lower Yuan River were analyzed and its distribution across historical periods was comprehensively revealed. The findings reveal a strong correlation between channel evolution, flood events, and climate change. Numerous flood events that occurred from the Late Qing Dynasty to the World War II caused a high rate of channel evolution, demonstrating the combined effects of climate change and human activities. These findings will help adopt robust and resilient hydrological management methods in the future of a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most recent studies on Meiyu over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) have focused on its interannual variability or the mechanism of certain abnormal events. The influence and physical mechanism of solar radiation intensity on the interdecadal frequency of strong Meiyu events over the MLRYR during historical periods were investigated using reconstructed precipitation data, reconstructed solar radiation data, and model simulation data. First, according to the solar radiation intensity, the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1470–1850) were divided into three periods of strong solar radiation and three periods of weak solar radiation. It was found that during the periods of strong solar radiation, the frequency of strong Meiyu events was significantly higher than that during the periods of weak solar radiation in the reconstructed precipitation data and model simulations. Mechanism analyses show that during the periods of strong solar radiation, the Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) is stronger, and the blocking highs over the middle-high-latitudes are also stronger, which is conducive to the continuous convergence of the southward cold air and the northward warm and humid air flow at the MLRYR. Therefore, a circulation spatial pattern conducive to the occurrence of strong Meiyu events is then induced. The probability distributions of precipitation also show that, during periods of strong solar radiation, changes in circulation patterns cause the probability distribution of precipitation to shift significantly to the right, increasing the probability of strong Meiyu events occurring on the right side of the probability distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Little Ice Age was concurrent with frequent natural disasters in China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368–1911 AD). Using historical documents created in the Yangtze River Delta during these dynasties, we reconstructed the severity and frequency of locust plagues. We uncovered their temporal and spatial patterns, the relevant influencing factors, and the applied control measures. These locust plagues occurred in the Yangtze River Delta during summer and autumn and were considered moderate-degree disasters. The locust plagues during the Qing Dynasty were less harmful than those during the Ming Dynasty. The locust plagues occurred north of 31°N and were concentrated around lakes and rivers. Regarding long-term changes, three periods of frequent locust plagues were identified: 1520–1540 AD, 1610–1670 AD, and 1850–1870 AD. The locust plague cycles were dominated by long-term changes of 100 and 350 years, alternating with short-term changes of 10–30 years. Locust growth and development typically occur under suitable climate conditions. However, in the Yangtze River Delta, the relationship between locust outbreaks and temperature changes was insignificant, whereas flood disasters provided suitable humidity conditions for locust nymph growth. Locust plague outbreaks had a series of social impacts, one direct result was rising food prices. When facing locust plagues, the Ming and Qing Dynasties formed effective top-down preventative measures corresponding to local conditions. The locust plagues in the Yangtze River Delta during the Ming and Qing Dynasties occurred with regularity, were responsive to local hydrological conditions, and impacted social economies and technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Yuan; Name and identity; Monkeys in human culture; François' langurs Trachypithecus francoisi; Gibbons EN Yuan Name and identity Monkeys in human culture François' langurs Trachypithecus francoisi Gibbons 175 177 3 02/17/23 20230201 NES 230201 Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-022-00340-9. Yuan, Name and identity, Monkeys in human culture, François' langurs Trachypithecus francoisi, Gibbons In contrast, there is ample evidence to suggest that the original identity of Yuan is a François' langur instead of a gibbon (Niu I et al. i , [3]). [Extracted from the article]

The geographical environment of Yunnan Province in China and Han migration during the Ming Dynasty contributed to the development of the Biantun culture. Biantun toponyms (BTT) record the integration process between the Central Plains and native Yunnan cultures. The GIS analysis method of toponyms was used in this study to reproduce the settlement characteristics of BTT and the spatial development of the Biantun culture in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In addition, we have developed a toponymical landscape index to represent the degree of spatial integration between the BTT and ethnic minority toponyms in Yunnan and explore the spatial characteristics of the integration of Han immigrants and local ethnic minorities. The results show that the spatial distribution of the BTT is consistent with the sites selection of the Tuntian (屯田) in Yunnan during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the centroids of BTT spread to outskirts and intermontane area from central towns. In the Dali, Kunming, Qujing and other regions, the distribution characteristics of the integrated of BTT and ethnic minority toponyms reflect a higher degree of Sinicization in the central urban areas. Exploring the evolution of Biantun cultural development through the spatial characteristics of toponymical landscapes can help adjust policies for the development and protection of Biantun cultural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the historical documents of Ming and Qing dynasties, with the help of mathematical statistics and the ArcGIS spatial analysis method, this study reconstructed grades and counties affected by locust plagues to examine their spatiotemporal characteristics, environmental significance and social impact. The results show that: (1) There were 242 locust plague years in the Xiang-E-Gan region during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with an average of one outbreak every 2.25 years. The Qing dynasty suffered more than the Ming dynasty, and Hubei Province was affected more seriously than Jiangxi Province and Hunan Province. Locust plagues mostly occurred from March to August, and autumn locust plagues occurred more frequently than summer locust plagues. (2) The sixteenth, seventeenth and nineteenth centuries were periods of successive outbreaks, with 4.13 locust plague years and 10.75 affected counties per decade. The spatial heterogeneity and aggregation of locust outbreaks were significant, and the plain area was affected more seriously and continuously. (3) Low temperature promoted the outbreak of locust plagues, especially during the period of high occurrence, and the outbreaks cannot indicate the previous year's temperature. Compared with floods, the relationship between droughts and locust plague was closer, and large-scale climate change may also affect locust outbreaks. (4) Long-term natural disasters multiplied the food price and food prices lagged behind disasters. Epidemics were often accompanied by locust plagues, forming a typical chain of agricultural disasters that did great harm to the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 15400-year mercury (Hg) accumulation history was reconstructed from a lake sediment core collected from Daping Swamp in western Nanling Mountains, South China. Our results show that the natural input of Hg was deeply influenced by varying climatic conditions. Under wet and warm conditions, increased surface soil organic matter induced by improved vegetation conditions favor an increased input of surface soil-bound Hg to the lake, thus leading to higher Hg accumulation rate, and on the other hand, the direct atmospheric wet deposition of Hg into the lake would also be enhanced. In contrast, under relatively cold and dry conditions, it would display an inverse picture. The signal of anthropogenic influence possibly derived from regional Hg pollution likely started at ~ 3400 cal. years BP, roughly corresponding to the early stage of the Shang Dynasty in Chinese history. Four periods of increased anthropogenic Hg inputs appeared in ~ 3358–2170, ~ 2170–1730, ~ 1369–1043, and especially ~ 600–250 cal. years BP, corresponded to the Shang and Zhou, the Qin and Han, the Sui and Tang, and the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, respectively. A clearly weakened anthropogenic input occurred between~1750 and 1400 cal. years BP, coinciding with the Three Kingdoms to the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Our results revealed the history of the natural Hg accumulation since the Last Deglacial period, and the existence of regional atmospheric Hg induced from anthropogenic activity spanning the last ~ 3400 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]