关键词: 明代, 华南, 自然灾害, 时空特征

Abstract: In the Ming Dynasty, there occurred 1 000 odd natural disasters in South China, which exerted adverse influence on the regions society and economy.The writer makes an omnibearing study of the natural disasters in South China of the Ming Dynasty on the basis of abundant materials, emphasizing on its space-time features.There was an imbalance in the time distribution of natural disaster occurrence.The occurring frequency of disasters was relatively lower in the early stage of the Ming Dynasty.In the mid term, there was a steady increase of natural disasters, with became serious and complicated.In the later period of the Ming Dynasty, the number of disasters decreased, but they were rather serious.Neither was it in balsnce in terms of space distribution of the natural disasters.Fujian suffered the most, especially in the area of Fuzhou, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou.The next was Guangdong, chiefly in the area of Guangzhou, Chaozhou, Zhaoqing and Qiongzhou.The disaster frequency in Guangxi was relatively lower except for the area of Taiping, Wuzhouand Liuzhou.This phenomenon was related to the different natural conditions in various regions of South China as well as the social factors.

Key words: Ming Dynasty, South China, disasters