The Use of Timber for Shipbuilding in the Chinese Navy During the Qing Dynasty

Öz

From the perspective of environmental history, this article aims to explore the importance and impact of timber as a forest resource in the construction of naval ships during the Qing period. The Qing Dynasty is acknowledged as the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history. The ‘dragon navy’ of the Qing Dynasty was organized into two fleets: the Eight Banners, and the Green Standard. The most typical types of ships built during the Qing period included the Fujian sailing ship (fú chuán), the delegation ship (fēng zhōu), the two-masted ship (jū chuán), and the ‘Tóng’ān suō chuán’. Timber played a crucial role as the primary material in the construction of naval ships during the Qing period. Timber supplied from forests and mountainous areas established connections between maritime and forestry in the Qing Empire. Timber varieties such as camphor trees, Chinese pine, Chinese fir, and ironwood were predominantly utilized in the construction of naval ships. Moreover, the supply and use of timber in naval shipbuilding were also regularly managed by the Qing Dynasty. During the Qing period in China, deforestation emerged as a significant issue, leading to a timber shortage for shipbuilding. Consequently, various measures were proposed to address the timber shortage and promote afforestation.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• naval history
• history of forestry
• navy ships
• timber
• Qing Dynasty

QİNG HANEDANLIĞI DÖNEMİNDE ÇİN DONANMA GEMİLERİNİN İNŞASINDA KERESTE KULLANIMI

Öz

Çevre tarihi bakış açısından, bu makale Qing döneminde donanma gemileri inşasında orman kaynağı olarak kerestelerin önemi ve etkisini tetkik etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Qing Hanedanı, Çin tarihinde en son imparatorluk olarak bilinmektedir. Qing Hanedanı’nın ‘ejderha donanması’, Sekiz Sancak ve Yeşil Standart olmak üzere iki birliği teşkil etmiştir. Qing donanmasında inşa edilen en tipik gemi çeşitleri arasında Fujian yelkenli gemisi (fú chuán), heyet gemisi (fēng zhōu), iki direkli gemi (jū chuán) ve ‘Tóng’ān suō chuán’ bulunmaktaydı. Bir ana malzeme olarak bilinen keresteler, Qing döneminde donanma gemileri inşasında çok önemli rol oynamıştır. Ormanlardan ve dağlık kesimlerden tedarik edilen keresteler, Qing Hanedanı’nın denizciliği ve ormancılığı arasındaki ilişkileri bağlamıştır. Donanma gemileri inşasında en çok kafur ağacı, Çin çamı, Çin göknarı ve demir ağacı gibi keresteler kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca, donanma gemileri inşasında kerestelerin tedariki ve kullanımı da Qing Hanedanı tarafından düzenli bir şekilde yönetilmiştir. Qing döneminde Çin’de gemi inşası için kereste yetersizliğine yol açan ormansızlaşma sorunu da yaşanmıştır. Dolayısıyla, kereste yetersizliği sıkıntısını çözmek ve ağaçlandırma yapmak için birçok önlem önerilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• denizcilik tarihi
• ormancılık tarihi
• donanma gemileri
• kereste
• Qing Hanedanı

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