From Needham Science and Civilization in China:

Duke Huan interrogates Kuan Chung on the best location for a capital city (2nd or 3rd century BC):

"I should like to hear", said Duke Huan, "about the harmful influences of water"
...Kuan Chung replied "...It is the nature of water to flow, but when it reaches a bend [in the channel] it is retarded
and when the bed is full [the water] behind pushes forward that which is ahead.
Where the land slopes downward it flows along smoothly,
but where it rises [the water] is impeded.
Where the bank curves [the water] pounds against it and crumbles it away;
[in other such places] [the water] becomes agitated and leaps up.
When it leaps up it runs to one side.
On running to one side it forms whirlpools.
After forming the whirlpools it returns to its central course.
On returning to its central course [and slowing] it deposits its silt,
and when this has occured [the channel] becomes obstructed.
Obstruction leads to a change of course.
Change of course brings fresh stoppage.
Thus impeded, the river runs wild.
Running wild, it injures men.
When it injures men, there arises great distress among them.
In great distress they treat the laws lightly.
Laws being treated lightly, it is difficult to maintain good order.
Good order lapsing, filial piety disappears.
And when people have lost filial piety, they are no longer submissive."
(vol 4 part 3 pg. 223)

And the Trimetrical Classic of River Control:

'Dig the channel deep
And keep the spillways low'.
This six-character teaching
Holds good for a thousand autumns.
Dredge out the river's stones
and pile them on the embankments
(etc. etc. --details)
And to obviate floods and all disasters
Year by year dredge out the bottom
'Till the iron bars clearly appaer
Respect the ancient system
And do not lightly modify it.

(vol 4 part 3 pg. 295)