Chris Courtney, "The Nature of Disaster in China: The 1931 Yangzi River Flood," (Cambridge University Press, 2018)

In 1931, China suffered a catastrophic flood that claimed millions of lives. This was neither a natural nor human-made disaster. Rather, it was created by an interaction between the environment and society. Regular inundation had long been an integral feature of the ecology and culture of the middle Yangzi, yet by the modern era floods had become humanitarian catastrophes. Courtney describes how the ecological and economic effects of the 1931 flood pulse caused widespread famine and epidemics. He takes readers into the inundated streets of Wuhan, describing the terrifying and disorientating sensory environment. He explains why locals believed that an angry Dragon King was causing the flood, and explores how Japanese invasion and war with the Communists inhibited both official relief efforts and refugee coping strategies. This innovative study offers the first in-depth analysis of the 1931 flood, and charts the evolution of one of China's most persistent environmental problems. 1931 China Flood Catastrophe Middle Yangzi River Flood History Environmental and Social Causes of Floods Courtney on 1931 Flood in Wuhan Famine and Epidemics After 1931 Flood Dragon King Myth and Flood Beliefs in China Japanese Invasion and Flood Relief Efforts Refugee Coping Strategies in 1930s China Humanitarian Crisis in China 1931 Interaction of Environment and Society in Floods Ecological History of the Yangzi River China's Persistent Environmental Challenges Chinese Flood Relief and War Impact Sensory Experience of Wuhan Flood Modern Era Flood Disasters in China