A Preliminary Study on the Decrees of Trees Protection of Yuan and Ming Dynasties

This paper focuses on the study of the decrees of trees protection and relevant recording in the historical sources of Yuan and Ming dynasties. On the basis of confirming Yuan and Ming dynasties' inheriting of the traditional system of trees protection decrees in ancient China, we reveal the differences between the two dynasties in this aspect. Yuan Dynasty issued more decrees to protect the agriculture trees which reflect the original ecological thoughts of inner Asia steppe culture. Ming Dynasty which carried on the political legacy of Yuan Dynasty paid more attention to the decrees of protecting the forest in emperors' mausoleums and north frontiers due to the special location of Beijing. Actually there is a cause and effect relationship between the decrees of trees protection of the two dynasties. Based on the trees fencesin the painting of Ming Dynasty, this paper will offer some visual information about the implement of these decrees. This paper will compare them in order to reveal the succession and new development of the state regime and society in Yuan and Ming dynasties from the perspective of trees protection.