Abstract: The notion of River regulation-Yangtze protection-Water conservancy can be expressed as theory of River-regulation on river sediment and flood control, practice of Yangtze-protection on regulation and protection versus development and utilization, and mission of Water-conservancy on promoting water benefits and eliminating water disasters. It forms a 3-element interactive pattern of compound-circle with disciplinary paradigm of River science-Yangtze science-Water science. First 10 Great Masters of River regulation-Yangtze protection-Water conservancy in the ancient and modern times were systematically overviewed. Then 3 Great Masters in the contemporary age were comprehensively reviewed. And finally inheritance and promotion on the notion of River regulation-Yangtze protection-Water conservancy and the spirit of Great Masters were preliminarily explored for the new era. ① The representative feats and practical experience of 10 Great Masters in the ancient and modern times include Dayu of the Xia Dynasty (Dayu s flood control), Li Bing of the Qin Dynasty (Dujiangyan Irrigation System), Sun Shuao of the Chu State (Quebei Irrigation System on the Huaihe River), Jia Rang of the Western Han Dynasty (three strategies for river harness), Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty (book of rivers and waterways in records of the Grand historian), Li Daoyuan of the Northern Wei Dynasty (commentary on the waterways classic), Guo Shoujing of the Yuan Dynasty (Tonghui canal), Pan Jixun of the Ming Dynasty (clearing sands with converging flow), Qinpu & Chen Huang of the Qing Dynasty (strategies for river harness), and Li Yizhi of the modern times (founder of Water-science in China). ② The representative theories and applications of 3 Great Masters in the contemporary age include three stages of Yangtze flood control, river dialectics (Lin Yishan), theory of river regime, sediment carrying capacity of river flow (Zhang Ruijin), fluvial processes, mechanics of sediment transport (Qian Ning). ③ New stage of high-quality regulation and protection versus sustainable development and utilization of the Yangtze, and New strategy of Reducing sediment load and increasing water flow for the middle and lower Yellow River, have been probed. Preliminary construction of River-science has been proposed with several debates, including justification on River morphology, perspective of "macro-river-regime" and method of macroscope-river, and identification on river and sediment researches. Disciplinary construction of River science-Yangtze science-Water science should be strengthened, meanwhile the strategy of water conservation and development via science and education is advocated.