The Shaanxi Earthquake of 1556

Figure 1: Depicts approximate epicenter and surrounding provinces. 

Shaanxi Earthquake of 1556

Introduction

On January 23, 1556, Chinese civilians awoke and began what they thought to be another regular day, completely unaware of the pressures building up beneath them. That morning, an unforeseeable natural disaster would occur, now widely known as the Shaanxi Earthquake. The epicenter occurred in the Wei River valley, located in close proximity to a few cities such as Huaxian, Weinan, and Huayin. Unfortunately, these cities would not be the only victims of such tragedy. While it only lasted a few seconds, the earthquake shook with immense power, spreading across 520 miles and affecting almost 100 nearby countries. (Harris, 2008) "Although the region had reportedly suffered multiple powerful earthquakes before — 26 others were noted in local reports — this rather unknown yet tragic quake was unlike any that came before it or since." (Littlechild, 2021)

Figure 2: Reveals significant damage
near the epicenter.

Environmental Effects

The earthquake shook with incredible force, obliterating  everything in its path for 520 miles. In modern terms, it would  have ranked an 8 on the Richter scale. Not only did the earthquake wreak havoc along the surface, but it also changed landforms and functions of nature. For instance, the ground tore open, creating crevices up to 66 feet deep. The formation of new hills and valleys encompassed the land, while certain streams and rivers shifted their flow in the opposite direction. Multiple fires raged across the land as well. (Littlechild, 2021) One can only imagine the horrific impact this occurrence had on the environment, humankind, wildlife, and so on. 830,000 people were killed during this disaster, which is over 60% of the population in that area. (Harris, 2008) There were high-scale societal impacts as well that would change the course of the future drastically. In the city of Huaxian, every piece of infrastructure would be demolished, leaving behind no hope or possibility of recovery. At the time, ‘residential’ areas consisted of yaodongs, caves carved into the hillside of the Loess plateau region. The severity of the earthquake would cause these homes to completely collapse, leaving thousands of civilians to be buried alive. Typically, artifacts and treasures are left behind after a large group of people pass, however, even these historical pieces would be tarnished or destroyed. For example, an important cultural form of architecture, known as The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, would lose almost six feet of height. Another popular building, China’s Stele Forest Museum, housed plentiful records, statues, artifacts, and engravings. The Tang Stone Classic collection would be ruptured and illegible. (Elhassan, 2018) With this information in mind, there would be no way to accurately calculate the true impact of environmental and economic damage at this early chapter in time. However, some might compare the damage costs to "the detonation of a nuclear weapon." (Uaecraga, 1970)

Figure 3: A visual illustration of the various
plates involved in the Shaanxi Earthquake.

Importance of Disaster

The Shaanxi Earthquake of 1556 would ensue lasting effects on both the environment and those who survived. Though this became known as one of the most disastrous earthquakes in history, its existence would fuel a new generation of knowledge and understanding. One surviving scholar by the name of Chin Qeda would later search for details to gain insight on hazards and deadly events. His goal was to establish measures of safety and prevention. He would have to analyze the probability of this event happening again, the exposure it would have, and the idea of potential vulnerabilities. One recorded quote of Chin Qeda’s is as follows, “at the very beginning of an earthquake, people indoors should not go out immediately. Just crouch down and wait. Even if the nest has collapsed, some eggs may remain intact“. (Elhassan, 2018) This idea is an early sign of safety acknowledgement and demonstrates a procedure many of us are familiar with still today. Another way to interpret vulnerability is to be aware of environmental patterns, landforms, sediment types, etc.. As mentioned previously, many civilizations in China grew to prosper in Loess regions, where the soil tends to be rich and silt-like. This kind of soil is easily disturbed by vibrations, especially those with a magnitude as high as the Shaanxi earthquake. This type of land made farming significantly easier and more productive when compared to other forms of soil. The combination of rich agriculture and favorable climates led to an obvious boom in population. At the time, no one was particularly aware of every variation of natural hazards, so they fell into a swirl of oblivion when disaster struck. Later on, it would be known that this portion of China lies directly above the Amurian Plate and in conjunction with three others: the North American Plate, the Philippine Plate, and the Indian Plate. When these plates converge, the crust warps and creates pressure and impact. “The Loess Region, and Shaanxi province, in particular, are susceptible to warping from those tectonic plate pressures.” (Elhassan, 2018) While humans were not yet aware of the logistics of plate tectonics and the like, they remained aware and began to create sturdier infrastructure. Unfortunately, nothing could have prepared the civilizations of China for this major natural event. There was no technology to understand the important properties of earthquakes, tsunamis, or even landslides. The most important piece the survivors could take away from this experience would be to take caution, warn others, and take preventative action (such as utilizing other resources for infrastructure.) 

This video illustrates concepts and ideas regarding the Shaanxi Earthquake of 1556. It briefly describes the impact of the disaster, the cause, and lasting effects on Chinese society.

Sources Cited:

Littlechild, C. (2021, July 27). The Deadliest Earthquake in History That No One Talks About. Grunge.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://www.grunge.com/470761/the-deadliest-earthquake-in-history-that-no-one-talks-about/

Elhassan, K. (2018, October 13). Deadliest earthquake in Shaanxi Province: 1556 Shaanxi earthquake. History Collection. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://historycollection.com/historys-deadliest-earthquake-in-shaanxi-1556-leveled-mountains-and-reversed-rivers/3/

Harris, C. (2008, May 12). Shaanxi earthquake. World History Project. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://worldhistoryproject.org/1556/1/23/shaanxi-earthquake

Shaanxi earthquake – China – 1556 AD. Devastating Disasters. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://devastatingdisasters.com/shaanxi-earthquake-china-1556-ad/

Uaecraga. (1970, January 1). 1556 Shaanxi earthquake. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://mycookbookaddiction.blogspot.com/2008/10/1556-shaanxi-earthquake.html

Figure 1: https://worldhistoryproject.org/1556/1/23/shaanxi-earthquake

Figure 2: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/bf/45/d0/bf45d0bc8e59a4d554c40b4fa2a665b4.jpg

Figure 3: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4b/60/e1/4b60e1aa1d6783627b1ada3f4bf316a1.png