1757年运城盐池洪水与制盐方法的革新

The 1757 AD Flood of the Yuncheng Salt Lake and the Innovation of Salt Making Method

运城盐池是中国古代最重要的盐产地之一。1757年(清乾隆二十二年)运城盐池一带发生洪涝灾害,加之人为破坏盐池堤堰,运城盐池遭受洪水的严重破坏。洪水造成运城盐池号称"产盐之母"的黑河淤废。在此后一二十年间,挑濬黑河的努力均告失败,盐业生产一蹶不振。在这样的背景下,长期沿用于运城盐池与我国其他许多盐池的制盐方法 "治畦浇晒法"难以为继。1777年(乾隆四十二年),盐商刘阜和创造出"打井浇晒法",使盐业生产得以恢复。1757年运城盐池洪水灾害这场天灾人祸,在给盐业生产带来沉重打击的同时,也成为制盐方法革新的契机。

The Yuneheng Salt Lake is one of the most important salt production areas in ancient China. There was a great flood in the basin of Yuncheng Lake in 1757 AD, together with the sabotage of the embankment, the lake was severely damaged. The Heihe Ditch, which is of key importance to salt production, was destroyed. For decades, the efforts of dredging turned not to be unsuccessful, and the salt production was fatally damaged. The commonly used salt making method, the Zhi qi jiao shai （field plowing and sunning） method, can no longer work. A new method, the Da jing jiao shai （drilling and sunning） method, was invented in 1777 AD by a salt merchant, Fuhe Liu, and the salt production recovered. The flood of the Yuncheng Salt Lake in 1757 AD interrupted the salt produc- tion, and turned out to be the turning point of the salt making method.