Sijian Wang

This project seeks to reconstruct the lived and environmental seascape of the Bohai and Yellow Seas in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It examines how protracted debates over canal versus sea transport, the circulation of maritime knowledge within coastal communities, and the recurrent threats of storms and floods shaped both statecraft and everyday life. The study also incorporates an ecological perspective that treats the seas and islands as active historical agents, revealing the intricate interplay of empire, community, and nature. By foregrounding the seas as dynamic arenas of history, the project advances an oceanic and environmental perspective on the Qing that moves beyond land-based narratives and offers fresh insight into China’s transformation.