Abstract: In 1732，a colossal tsunami swept the coastal areas of the Yangzi Delta． The disaster generated huge
negative impact on the economic and social life of the local people，and consequently threatened the
social security and stability of the Qing government's revenue center． The government mobilized officials
at all levels to fully engage in the disaster relief． While leading the relief campaign，the government
exhibited impressive capability to cope with the destructive disaster and implement relief measures by
properly utilizing the interregional law of food supply and demand to timely regulate grain supply so that
food prices could be stabilized in the disaster-stricken areas． The government performance in the disaster
relief indicates that governmental effort is the primary resource of the post-disaster relief during the first
half of the 18th century，and that such long-term and large-scale grain supply regulation can only be
achieved through effective organization of a powerful central government and local governments .