From Steven Solomon’s Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization
So closely correlated was river management and governing power that the very Chinese character for “politics” is derived from root words meaning flood control.
jfleck at inkstain
A few thoughts from John Fleck, a writer of journalism and other things, living in New Mexico
Nice!
FYI, I double checked this with a Chinese friend. It’s more or less correct, but is not always interpreted that way…