YANGTZE RIVER: The more southerly of CHINA's two principal rivers (the other is the YELLOW RIVER). Chinese civilization first appeared along the lower banks of the two rivers. Because of severe flooding, the rivers occasionally changed their courses, wiping out entire regions of CHINA and sometimes ushering in the collapse of a dynasty. With the reunification of the warring Chinese states under the SUI DYNASTY (581-618), construction was begun on the GRAND CANAL, linking the two rivers. (See also China article).
