State and Environment in the Ordos Loop (8th–early 9th Century CE)

This chapter examines Tang state policies for resource exploitation in the Ordos Loop during the eighth and early ninth centuries, focusing on agricultural land reclamation, horse trade, military provisioning, transportation, and the resettlement of military and civilian populations to reinforce state presence on the northern frontier. By comparing hydroclimatic and historical data, it analyzes state responses to the region’s ecological and climatic constraints. It argues that the state continued to invest in resettlement policies and local farming, despite low agricultural productivity, which was worsened by drought in the early ninth century. These policies were driven by the need to restore population stability in the northern frontier, recover losses in the western territories, and reduce transportation costs.