Abstract: In the late eighteenth century, a new method of natural division appeared in Western geography, and in the works of Western scholars, the natural division of China also appeared, but the eighteen inland provinces and border areas were often separated or introduced side by side, and the natural divisions were limited to the eighteen inland provinces. Absorbing Western knowledge, Japan also divided the eighteen inland provinces into “North, South, Central. ” This method of division, combined with the three major rivers of “Yangtze River, Yellow River and Pearl River”, and evolved into “Central Yangtze River Basin”, “Northern Yellow River Basin” and “Southern Pearl River Basin”. This concept was introduced into China by many Japanese translations and became popular in the late Qing Dynasty’s local chronicles about China. At the same time, due to the efforts of Liang Qichao and others, this knowledge combined with the concept of civilization and history, integrated with the trend of nationalism, and expanded its influence.

摘要： 18 世纪后期，西方地理学出现了新式的自然区划法，西人著作中也出现了关于中国的自然区划，却往往将内地十八省与边疆地区分开或并列介绍，其自然区划也仅限于内地十八省。日本在吸收西人知识的基础上也对内地十八省进行了“南北中”划分，这一划分法与“长江、黄河、珠江”三大河结合，演化成“中部长江流域”“北部黄河流域”“南部珠江流域”，伴随大量日文译著引入国内，在清末关于中国的地志中流行。同时该知识在梁启超等人的努力下，与文明史观相结合，配合民族主义思潮，影响力逐渐扩大。

关键词: 长江流域, 黄河流域, 珠江流域, 自然区划