In times of the PreQin and the West and the East Han period, geological calamities were varying and frequent. Roughly there were 35 geological calamities in the preQin days, 59 in the West Han period and 120 in the East Han Dynasty. All these calamities showed a periodicity of frequent and infrequent periods in temporal distribution, seasonal imbalance in yearly distribution and regional discrepancy in spatial distribution. Therefore, it is of realistic importance to current task of preventing, lessening and rescuing calamity to explore the law of temporal and spatial distribution of geological calamities in the preQin and the West and the East Han period and summarize the merits and demerits of the past dynasties in preventing and fighting geological calamities.

the preQin and the West and the East Han period; geological calamity; temporal and spatial distribution; state response