唐代安史之亂至德宗時期的通濟渠－－以汴宋節度使轄區為範圍

The T’ung-chi Channel During An-Shi Rebellion and De-Tzung Period:Pien-sung Regional Leaders Focused

中國的地形西北高東南低，哺育文明的河流大致成東西流向，這種地勢，對華夏文化的傳播與南北物資的交流，形成相當的阻礙。在中古以前，多數朝代的首都約順著黃河南北岸，東西向移動。隋唐時代，關中、關東地區雖物產富饒、人文薈萃，但重要政治軍事活動，大都集中在北方，對於各種資源的需求量相當龐大，也因此，唐代前期倘遇災荒，關中糧食便有匱乏之虞，高宗開始，已有就食東都之舉。相對的，東南地區，經歷孫吳南朝政權的開發，物阜民豐、經濟發達。安史之亂後，黃河中下游廣大地區經歷戰爭浩劫，殘破不堪；繼之以藩鎮割據，政局動盪，居民大量向南遷移；相對的，南方的州郡，人口顯著增加，經濟發展日益蓬勃，北方政治中心與南方經濟重心的相互依存度日高，隋煬帝開鑿的通濟渠，其重要性益顯，循至安史之亂後，長安政權的穩定與否，與通濟渠的通塞，形成緊密的關連。

Due to the north-west higher than south-east topography characteristic of China, rivers that nurse the civilization are mostly bound to west-east flowing. This terrain would cause certain obstacles to cultural and economic transportation. Many dynasties therefore set up their capitals alongside the Yellow River. However, during the Sui and early Tang Dynasties, political and military activities were situated in the north, where famines would lead to the shortage of food and other needs. In this sense, Kao-Tzung initiated the transportation of food from the east. However, the south-eastern area had been prosperous ever since the development by previous regimes; the areas near the Yellow River had been devastated since An-Shi Rebellion; political uncertainties also had population moved southward—all these factors led to the more prosperous economics of the south, and the more political interdependence of the south and the north. The T’ung-chi Channel made by Emperor Sui-Yang therefore became important in that it affected the political stability of the Tang Dynasty, especially after An-Shi Rebellion.