水作為人類最基本的必需品，本應是人人共用的自然之物。但隨著近代社會的工業化及城市化發展，水資源愈見有限，人們對水的認識也逐漸改變：水被賦予許多新的涵義，並與現代技術結合而成為一種商品。在中國，從1850年到1950年間，使用商品水漸漸成為富裕、衛生、文明、摩登的象徵。本論文主要探討在這百年間用水的演化如何在蘇州城中體現出來。 / 在中國現代供水進程中，上海公共租界最先建立起具有標誌性的自來水廠。而後法租界、華界也爭相仿效建立。但在上海整個城市中，自來水的用水方式沒有得到統一。租界內漂亮的洋房在屋內即有供水，而租界內華人居住的弄堂與租界之外的華界地區仍使用水夫挑水。這種差異帶出了西人和華人的區別，同時還是富人和窮人生活方式的區別。 / 在本研究重點研究的蘇州城內，清末至民國時期，地方精英一直試圖建立現代象徵的自來水，卻未能成功。最終，城內少數富裕商戶合資開掘自流井，然後將井水接連水管入屋，創建了蘇州模式的自來水。這與整個城市供水為目標的自來水廠相差甚遠，但由於民國時期蘇州城內勢力分散，沒有力量創辦統一的供水模式，只有少數的富裕人家可以使用自流井，大多數的居民，仍然大量依靠淺水井和河水。 / Water, as an essential ingredient for life, is supposed to be freely used. However, in the age of industrialization and urbanization, with fear of water shortage and environmental degradation, people imposed new ideas on this natural resource, and transformed water from public good into a tradable commodity by using new technology. In China from 1850 to 1950, commoditized water supply made people feel affluent, healthy, civilized, and modern. This thesis examines the transformation of water use in the city of Suzhou. / The establishment of the first water supply company in the Shanghai International Settlement in the late nineteenth century was a significant milestone of China's modern water supply. Soon after that the French Concession and the Chinese Zone attempted to follow the practice. The services of water supply were yet never unified in Shanghai. While better-off households in the Foreign Concession enjoyed indoor tap water supply, many others, especially those who lived in the Chinese walled city, bought water directly in streets installed with water taps. The way to consume water reflected living standard. / During late Qing period and China’s Republican period, the local elites of Suzhou City also attempted to set up modern water supply, but failed with insufficient capital. Eventually, a few wealthy merchants formed a small company of water supply. Instead of using steam engines to pump water from river, the company opened artesian wells, and built water pipes to transport water to households. This created the Suzhou model of water supply. However, because of competing local forces, this modern water supply in Suzhou was of a small scale. Only a few rich people could afford to consume the water, a majority of the Suzhou population still relied on ordinary shallow wells and rivers to have their daily water. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 陳文妍. / Parallel title from added title page. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2016. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-190). / Abstracts also in English. / Chen Wenyan.