Abstract:

In 1936 and 1937,Sichuan province suffered a severe drought. This drought was significant for three key reasons: the disaster area covered the entire province;the death toll was high;and the degree of the disaster varied greatly. Northern Sichuan was the hardest hit region due to the frail natural and social environment there,and its long distance from the administrative core of Sichuan. Throughout 1936 and 1937,northern Sichuan was in political“chaos”,when many political forces crisscrossed the region and the social environment was unstable. The major characteristic of the severe disaster in northern Sichuan was the continuity of the drought in time and space. As perceived from the relationship between environmental vulnerability and disaster,this was the inevitable result of the continuously declining ability of the people and society to survive. The drought also revealed an important internal relationship between the environment and human beings,especially in specific areas with vulnerable environments. The findings from the investigation of the region suggest that societies and the public should focus more on promoting social progress and development when dealing with disasters.

Key words: Sichuan Province, drought, drought in northern Sichuan, environmental vulnerability, disaster area, severe disaster area