Abstract: Human-water relationship is complex and involves many elements. It is important to find an effective approach for harmonious regulation of the existing conflicts on the basis of the mechanism hidden in the relationship. Using a case analysis of the Yellow River basin, this paper elucidates the complexity of human-water relationship from three aspects, complexity in the human system and the water system, complexity in their coupling, and complexity in their interaction. We examine the interaction process in human-water relationship, and reveal its mechanism based on the interaction of these two components; then, we summarize the issues in the existing human-water relationship observed in the case basin, and present an new idea － using harmonious regulation to improve such relationship. The results of two case studies, “Yellow River water distribution” and “harmony equilibrium between water resources and economy-society development”, show that facing such a complex relationship involved in this basin, we can adopt the theory and method of harmonious control to achieve an optimized water distribution plan that improves the level of its regional harmony and its human-water relationship, thus proving the approach is valid and useful.

Key words: human-water relationship, human-water system, harmonious regulation, mechanism of action, Yellow River basin