唐代不論在疆域國力或在典章文化制度上，均具有承先啟後的關鍵地位。唐代版圖遼闊地形複雜、氣候各異，各地方發生天然災害的種類不同、頻率不同，災損程度亦不同，但以水、旱災對人民生計影響最為嚴重。國計與民生息息相關，唐代政府體制中建立了對天然災害的處理機制。水旱災發生，地方長官就其權限裁奪開倉賑災，再將災情呈報中央，至中央派出使節安撫，已經屬於事後的收拾民心工作。雖兩倉的功能的發揮，因人為的因素，逐漸發生變化，但輔以官員考核管控，這套運作機制也為水旱天災頻仍的唐帝國，維持了近三百年的政權。

With regard to state territorial prowess and decree-regulation systems, Tang Dynasty served as a link between its past and future. Due to the complicated terrains and diverse weathers, various natural disasters occurred with different kinds and frequencies. However, floods and droughts have had the most effects on civilian lives. The government at Tang Dynasty therefore set up mechanisms for dealing with natural disasters. Whenever floods or droughts occurred, local governors would determine the timing to open up granaries to relieve the people in stricken areas; they would have reported to the central government, which then sent people in charge to placate and comfort those suffered. Despite some man-made reasons leading to the changes of the granary functions, the mechanism – with governors’ evaluation and domination, still helped Tang Dynasty with stabilizing its state prowess and handling its frequent natural disasters.