Preliminary Discussion on Theory of the Yellow River Sediment Movement and Its Practice in Ancient Times

The observation and understanding of the ancients on the Yellow River sediment and its movement have a long-standing. It has formed preliminary theory on sediment. It is mainly shown through the following five aspects: the Yellow River sediment concentration, sediment deposition law, sediment scouring law, theory of scouring sediment by narrowing the channel and the relationship between scouring, deposition and river course changes. In addition, the practice on managing and controlling the Yellow River sediment also has been made considerably achievements in history. The paper is going to make analysis from five aspects, i.e. sediment dredging, practice of narrowing the channel for scouring sediment, sediment control issues in Wang Jing and Jia Lu river harnessing, estuary control and management and sediment utilization.