Climate and Society in Chinese History

Bibliographic Data

ID12929186
AuthorsXinshuai Ren (0009-0005-4905-5138, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research), Wenxiang Wu (0000-0002-0207-2847, Sanya University, corresponding author), Quansheng Ge (0000-0001-8712-8565, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research), Jianxin Cui (0009-0000-2634-8193, Shaanxi Normal University), Xueqin Zhang (0000-0003-3049-6492, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research), Andrea Seim (0000-0002-7201-8010, Universität Innsbruck), Martin Karl Skoglund (0000-0001-7259-1151, Stockholm University), Ke Wang (0000-0002-4808-2637, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research), Maochou Liu (0000-0001-5975-6556, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research), Jiahui Cheng (0009-0008-7373-8483, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research), Z K Zeng (0009-0007-3837-3688, University of Hong Kong), Fredrik Charpentier Ljungqvist (0000-0003-0220-3947, Stockholm University, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume16
Issue6
Publication date2025-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1757-7780 • E-ISSN: 1757-7799
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/wcc.70032
OpenAlexW4416825733
LanguageEN
References cited200

This article reviews 292 studies, published between 1980 and 2024, on the relationship between climate change and human history in China ( c . 770 bce –1949 ce ), in both Chinese and English. We synthesize key findings, highlight debates and consensus, and identify future research directions, focusing on the causal links between changes in climate and human societies. Despite significant progress, challenges remain, including uneven temporal and regional coverage, a focus on agrarian societies, an emphasis on crises, and limited multi‐temporal and comparative regional analyses. Recent trends highlight quantitative assessments of the causal effects of climate change on society, the influence of various climatic factors, and regional and social variations. Methodologically, there is a shift toward higher‐resolution data, greater quantification, and stronger interdisciplinary integration. The review concludes with recommendations to refine the framework for studying historical climate–society interactions. This article is categorized under: Climate, History, Society, Culture > Ideas and Knowledge Climate, History, Society, Culture > Disciplinary Perspectives Climate, History, Society, Culture > Major Historical Eras

Agrarian society · China · Climate change · Discipline · Focus (optics · History of China · Chinese history and philosophy · Climate variability and models · Tree-ring climate responses