El estudio de las relaciones internacionales en China antigua: el Sistema tributario en la dinastía Ming

Abstract

Chinese studies, or Asian studies in general, offer appropriate research fields for reformulating certain theories or paradigms. Such is the case of the Theory of the Tributary System, which has explained China’s history of international relations for nearly half a century. Basically, this theory affirms that relations between China and its neighbors were tributary in character. These Chinese dynasties were the objectives of given tributes and honors, while surrounding nations had to abide to this dynamic. However, recent research shows that these kind of social linkages were not the norm. Our paper focuses in Ming’s dynasty relations with nations in the north and in the south-southeast. We will not attempt to solve historical questions, but to encourage research questions that future schol- ars will solve. Our hypothesis is that tributary relations were only at the government’s level, whilst concerning the societal level another type of dynamics operated. Our research leads us to conclude that during the Ming dynasty, tributary relations had boom and bust, but social relations were maintained although no tributary relations existed at all.