Researches On Trade Between China And Japan In Song Dynasty

During the early period of the10th century, the East Asia was experiencing turbulence. In China, the Tang Dynasty came to an end, replaced by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Until the late period of the10th century, the Song Dynasty pacified the Ten Kingdoms and set up Shibosi (Bureau for Foreign Shipping) in Guangzhou, Ming Zhou and Hangzhou. Shibosi was an government institution which managed seaway inbound procedure(including taxation) for foreign merchants and immigration procedure for domestic merchants of Song Dynasty. Although Japan hadn't realized the alternation of dynasties, but still, it experienced the transformation of governance under the statues system, including taking severer censorship aim at the overseas merchants. It was at that very time the merchants of Song dynasties appeared on the scene of the two countries'history. The article studied the general situation of the merchants of Song dynasty in Japan and looked deep into this group of people and found out their role and historical impact on China-Japan trade communication.The article is divided into eight parts. The introduction is a brief review of the process of politics and economics development between China and Japan and it also comments on the research results of the scholars in China and Japan as well as their weaknesses. Then it is about the aim and method of this study.The first two chapters compared the two countries'marine trade management system. Based on the research findings of Chinese and Japanese scholars, this chapter comprehensively and systemically introduced the Shibosi regime including the background, function, rules and implementation of "jinque","choujie" and "hemai" in Song Dynasty as well as the regimes named as "cunwen (materials to be checked when you enter a country)" and "age limit system" which Japanese customs used for Chinese business boats. It also approached a series of prohibition on marine trade during "yanxi" years which later had a very significant impact on trade between China and Japan in Song Dynasty as well as profound and lasting historical meanings.The third chapter mainly discussed about the seaborne transportation between China and Japan. It was done by inspecting the historical materials and demonstrations, studying the trade ports of two countries, the trade routes, navigation time and the construction of the boats.The fourth chapter revealed the evidence about merchants'trade activities in Japan. Combining the research achievements done by both Chinese and Japanese scholars as well as a large amount of unearth relics, it revealed the actual situations of Song merchants'leaders. It discussed the merchants' language,"tanghuo"(products from china),"wohuo"(products from Japan),"huobi"(currency),"maoyichongtu"(trade conflicts) and "lianying"(connection through marriages) while trading in Japan. In the Northern Song period of time,"shajin" has already become the common-use currency which later was replaced by "tongqian"(copper cash). Japan was completely brought into the financial system of Song Dynasty. At first, it was "hotel trade" and then it turned into "stay in Japan to do business". It symbolized Japan's transformation of foreign trade policies. In addition, it also well demonstrated Song businessmen's involvement and influence on local economies. What's more, it showed the differences of business module between South Song and North Song. Besides the trade, Song businessmen also served as two countries' diplomatic envoys to send state documents and political signals. This article deeply analyzed about this and pointed out the fact that Song dynasty want to close its relationship with Japan and tried to pull Japan into its trade system. Just like the Tong dynasty, first paid tribute to the imperial and then confer its noble title and finally built up an East Asia order ruled by Song dynasty. On the other hand, Japan avoided to do so and was stick to its isolated diplomatic standing. Song businessmen not only made contributions to two countries'economy and politics but also spread Chinese splendid culture. It was an arduous and great process and its contribution was profound.The fifth chapter mainly tells us the comparison between the two countries of the Tang and Song Dynasties monks and Song by using the "gongpin"(public virtue),"gongjian"(public prosecutor),"guanfu"(official symbol), and "guodie"(dispatch),"guoshu"(credentials), and discussed the features of economic and political function of "Song merchants in Japan". Of Japan into the monk Yuan Zhen's "Dazaifu public inspection," as well as in the Tang territory by using "Fuzhou, Wenzhou and Taizhou official dispatch," and the Song Dynasty businessman Li chong charge of "public virtue", comparing Japanese "taizheng official dispatch, reveals how did Song China and Japan deliver the pass "to the public by (check) in the condition of without formal diplomatic relations. In addition, it also studied early Northern Song Dynasty, the Japanese official to send monks to smuggle Monk causes of this phenomenon. And why they gradually disappear in Southern Song Dynasty? During the Southern Song Dynasty,"Song merchants in Japan" not only do business, often as a diplomatic emissary of the two governments with each other to pass the credentials and the political signal. This chapter has also made a profound analysis, and detailed and thorough research of the early Northern Song Dynasty's passing credentials and the causes and the Northern Song Dynasty late Song providers pass credentials events. However, to the Southern Song, this just gradually disappeared. This also fits the changing of policy of Pingqingshen years. This chapter also discusses how they narrowed the distance, when there was no diplomatic relations between the two countries. And tried to put Japan into their own trading system, like the Tang Dynasty, first make the tribute, and then canonized their last Hua Yi order to establish dominated by the Song Dynasty East Asia. How Japan tried to avoid establishment of formal relations with Song, stick to itself isolated, closed diplomatic position. Song merchants in Japan not only contributed to the two countries' politic and economics, but also spread the Chinese civilization. The process was magnificent and arduous; its contribution was great and extraordinary.The sixth chapter is based on the analysis and study of the Southern Song Dynasty. How did Ping Sheng Qing, government minister of Japan govern the Seto Inland Sea, the construction of a large round of Tian parked port to expand trade with the Southern Song Dynasty, and realized the dream.The seventh chapter is a biography of "Song merchants in Japan". Highlighted the outstanding "Song merchants in Japan", according to the two countries history books.They are representative and epitome of the whole business groups in Song.The eighth chapter analyzed some doubts in the historical materials. On the question whether "ZhongSun and JiSun is the same person?" we can see that some Song businessmen changed their names to avoid the restrains of "age limit system" and that is a new discovery I got from investigating the historical materials. Besides, on the question of "whose boat had XunChen took to steal into Song", I found out that the captains would not set sail by himself every time. Sometimes they would ask some else to do it. Finally, by on the spot investigation and taking evidence, I found out that the Song businessmen ChongLi in Japanese historical materials are different from the real "GongPing,ChongLi " and I corrected it.The solution pointed out that Northern Song merchants were inclined to do "closed trade" and they were poor at Japanese and they often served as the messengers and envoys of the country to bring presents and state documents to Song's emperor. The government of Song made use of Song businessmen's economic activities to achieve its political purposes. The trade of North Song businessmen in this period can also be seen as "fixed point trade" and "half-official trade"However, the South Song businessmen have already transformed into "stay in Japan to do the business". The leaders and big businessmen were close to local upper class dignitaries. Those half-blood second and third generations of Song businessmen grown up in Chinatown and got on the historical stage of China and Japan. Also, the major trade was about the trade with local big shrines and temples. We can say that Song businessmen of that time have entirely integrated into all corners of Japan's society. This time can also be seen as "group trade" which means the commerce between big South Song businessmen, captains and temples.Merchants of Song Dynasty in Japan not only did great contribution to China-Japan trade, developed a seaborne trade route, a Eastern seaborne Silk Road, but also made great contribution to the political contact and exchanges of the two countries, even as Korea country to the northeast Mariana into the Song Dynasty dominated the political map to make a significantly contribution. Song merchants are also outstanding at making contributions to the spread of Chinese civilization and Chinese thoughts, they are a mobile carrier of the Chinese civilization as well as Chinese civilization circle builders and practitioners.