Cause & Context
During the Warring States period under King Zhaoxiang of Qin, the Min River caused recurring floods and droughts in the Chengdu Plain; Qin urgently needed Sichuan as a reliable strategic breadbasket to conquer the other states.
Epochal Overview
Governor Li Bing and his son adapted to natural hydraulic topography, chiseling Baopingkou through Mount Yulei and constructing the Yuzui bypass and Feishayan spillway to establish a non-dam auto-irrigation and desilting network.
Key Figures
Li Bing and his son led Sichuan laborers and craftsmen in persistent excavation, pioneering ecological hydraulic wisdom revered at the Erwang Temple across dynasties.
Civilizational Impact
Dujiangyan transformed the Chengdu Plain into the fertile 'Land of Abundance' (Tianfu), fueling Qin's unification of China and continuously irrigating millions of acres for over two millennia.