Exploitation, Usage, and Management of Timber for Shipbuilding in Qing China

Abstract

In the pre-industrial era, timber was the most valuable material for shipbuilding. Timber formed a tight relationship between forestry and marine navigation. The exploitation, transportation, utilization, and management of timber were of interest to many dynasties and civilizations. This article reviews the issue of timber exploitation, utilization, and management in the Qing period in China. The main types of timber used in shipbuilding during the Qing period were fir, pine, camphor, and ironwood. The Qing Dynasty established strict regulations to manage the source of timber for ship construction. In addition, China during the Qing period also experienced deforestation, leading to the shortage of timber. Therefore, the Qing Dynasty proposed measures to solve the timber shortage, prevent deforestation, and reforestation.