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Song Grand Canal Grain Transport System

Type Object Region China Time 1041–1050

Northern Song grain transport network centered on the Grand Canal and the Bian River, moving Jiangnan tax grain to the capital Kaifeng;…

Timeline

  1. 1041–1050Liangzhe and Huainan circuits · East ChinaThe circuits of Jiangnan were the main source of grain tribute; each circuit had a transport commission responsible for collection, storage, and dispatch, assembling tax grain before sending it onto the Grand Canal trunk line.
  2. 1041–1050Grand Canal (Bian River–Yellow River–Yu River section) · ChinaGrain boats traveled north along the canal, entering the Yellow River via the Bian Canal and then the Yu River to reach the vicinity of the capital, with locks, dams, towing, and escorting grain troops along the way to keep grain traffic flowing.
  3. 1041–1050Kaifeng grain transport docks and granaries · KaifengGrain arriving via the Bian River was unloaded into official granaries, supplying the capital's troops and civilians, officials' stipends, and court expenses—the population and material foundation on which the Northern Song capital depended.

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