Preliminary Study of the Imperial Wood Factories in Beijing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, imperial wood procurement had a large scale and far-reaching influence. The imperial wood factory is an important transfer station in the process of the wood procurement. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were several such factories in Beijing, two at Tongzhou and Zhangjiawan, a Damu (Big Wood) Factory outside of Chongwenmen and a Shenmu (Divine Wood) Factory outside of Chaoyangmen. Taijichang and Shanxi Damu Factory where timber was stored were also used for turnover of royal timber. This paper further analyzes the influence and research significance of the setting of royal wood factories by combing the sources of imperial wood in Beijing in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the distribution and management of the factories, and the usage of the wood. We hold that the royal wood factories bear precious cultural memory, and they are conducive to displaying the charm of the grand canal, and promoting the construction of the grand canal culture belt through excavating the value of the canal.