Water is the source of organic life, and culture is a creation of the most advanced organic being—human beings. Therefore, water—especially freshwater essential for human consumption and agricultural irrigation—is a fundamental prerequisite for the emergence of culture. Only with a stable supply of freshwater could humans develop sedentary agriculture, thereby crossing the threshold of civilization, typically marked by the rise of cities, the invention of writing, and the use of metal tools. Among all natural sources, rivers have played the most vital role in continuously providing freshwater necessary for human survival and the development of civilization.