Dujiangyan Dam

　　Dujiangyan Dam, the Most Outstanding Irrigation System

　　Put on the list of world historical heritage conservation, the Dujiangyan Irrigation Works is like a dazzling pearl with a silver ribbon on the Chengdu Plain. For more than 2,250 years of irrigation, it has not only benefited local people but also made the ancient Shu state a famed "land of abundance." This system still plays an indispensable function in irrigation and continues to provide pleasure and happiness for the people of Chengdu. As the oldest irrigation system, Dujiangyan is worthy of wonder.

　　Ⅰ. From Harnessing the Floods by Da Yu to Building Dujiangyan by Li Bing

　　With the vernal equinox each year, rain begins coming down and raises the water level in the Minjian River, which rushes down between steep valleys.

　　Although hundreds of years span the legends of Da Yu controlling floods on the plain and Li Bing building a dam, there was no delay in harnessing the Minjiang River. Before the Qin state overthrew the Shu state, the civilized dynasty of ancient Shu was founded on the basis of harnessing the Minjiang water. In accordance with the historical material, the first king of that civilized Shu state, Bie Ling, was an expert himself in harnessing waters. He observed the geographical situations, measured the water flow and excavated the Mt. Yulei and the Jintang County Straits (the straits between Mt. Longquan in Jintang County and Mt. Yunding) to release water and finally controlled the floods so that the local people could live without the trouble of floods. On account of victory over floods, rapid economic development and strong comprehensive state power, the ancient Shu state began to expand its territory on a large scale with the capital Piyi as the core, and to conquer the surrounding peoples. The territory of Shu reached the realm of the Pa people in the eastern bordering Chu State, reached Yunnan in the south, conquered the Diqiang nationality in the west and arrived at the Han River, a frontier shared with the powerful Qin state.

　　Li Bing and his son are among the most striking symbolic heroes in the ancient Shu state. Obviously, they did not construct the dam in a day themselves, but rather harnessed traditional wisdom and their own experience to create the dam and control floods.

　　Ⅱ. Dujiangyan Dam, the Cultural Birthmark on Shu People's Body