Chinese Tributary System In Korea.docx

Master Studii Est-Asiatice, An 1

Ruxandra Manea

Dialogul Intercultural si Traducerea (Prof: F. Visan)

Chinese Tributary System in Korea (조공 체제) 918-1392 (Koryo Dynasty) 1392- 1910 (Yi Dynasty)

China and Korea have a long history of complex relations due to their both geographical and cultural links. For long time, their relationship was symbolized by a hierarchical tributary system in which China, the Middle Kingdom, invoking its heavenly mandate (tianming), required neighboring “barbarians” such as Koreans to pay homage to it as the center of the cosmic universe and to send tributary missions to the Chinese courts. Korea’s tributary relations with China began as early as the fifth century, were regularized during the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) and became fully institutionalized during the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910). China regarded Korea as a small vassal state populated by its younger brothers, reflecting the significant asymmetry between them in terms of size, population, and power. As long as the Korean governments fulfilled their tributary obligations, however, China did not interfere in their day to day internal affairs. However, in times of great upheaveal (Mongol invasions), the rulers of China did not hesitate to invade and occupy Korea.

The advantages of the tributary system: -

Korean kings were gaining political legitimacy from China’s recognition Korea could borrow from Confucian civilization and gain China’s protection and advise China was not interfering into Korea’s domestic issues Korea was having access to international trade

The disadvantages of the tributary system: -

Financial burden

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China’s military pressure Failure to protect Korea in front of Japanese and Russian invasion

Tribute Missions: -

Limited in size (maximum 100 persons) Exchange of courtesies Tributary envoys performed the “kotow”( knocking of the head upon the ground) to the King and the King performed Kotow to the Heaven and to the Parents

Sources: J.K. Fairbank, Tributary Trade and China’s Relations with the West, 1942, pp 129-149 http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2049617?uid=2134&uid=2485695473&uid=37389 20&uid=2&uid=70&uid=3&uid=2485695463&uid=60&purchasetype=none&accessType=none&sid=21105103457023&showMyJstorPss=false&seq=9& showAccess=false Chae-Jin Lee, China and Korea, China and Korea: Dynamic Relations, 1996 http://books.google.ro/books?id=b5pCOCulSD4C&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=korea+tributa ry+system&source=bl&ots=N2C6RvGQfB&sig=ociDcuXFkPR0UDHRYpfoIcXBRE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hV5WVIfkINb3arn3gNAP&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage& q=korea%20tributary%20system&f=false

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z8dC44FQXY