A Study On The Tributary Relationship Of Sino-Ryukyu Under The Impact Of External Forces

Since the establishment of the tributary relationship between Ming-Qing Dynasties and Ryukyu, it was survival up to 500 years. During the period, Ming-Qing dynasties and Ryukyu gradually established and developed a close relationship. Meanwhile, the tributary relationship had suffered the impact of external forces such as Japanese, Western forces, thus displaying it's unique character. To exam the development and evolution of the tributary relationship deeply can reveal the Ming-Qing dynasties, Ryukyu's position and strategies facing the external impact, reflect the basic causes of the tributary relationship's disintegration.According to the Stage characteristics of the tributary relationship between the Ming-Qing Dynasties and Ryukyu under the impact of external forces, this content is divided into six chapters.Chapterâ… is the introduction section. By summing up the achievements and shortcomings of domestic and foreign scholars research on traditional tributary relationship, the content puts forward the view. The research has revolved around the establishment and development of the specific tributary relationship. Centering the changes of relations between modern China and foreign countries, scholars study more fully on the disintegration of the tributary relationship between China and the neighboring countries. About the former research, people focus on the establishment of tributary relationship and the development process of bilateral countries, while the study on the impact of the third party or other parties is inadequate; about the latter research, people focus on the disintegration and consequences of the tributary relationship, ignoring the response and strategies of the concerned countries facing the influence of the external factors in the development process of tributary relationship. Therefore, this article will investigate the tributary relationship of Ming-Qing dynasties and Ryukyu in a long historical period, exploring the position of the Ming-Qing dynasties and Ryukyu, examining the evolution and disintegration of the tributary relationship under the impact of external forces, revealing the new features of the tributary relationship.Chapterâ…¡describes establishment and development process of the tributary relationship and its basic elements. In the early Ming Dynasty, Chu Yuan-chang had taken attention to the strategic geographical location of Ryukyu, incorporating it into the tributary system in order to build a coastal defense system to defense Japanese pirates. At the time, Ryukyu was divided into Zhongshan, Shannan, Shanbei. In order to obtain the support of the Ming Dynasty, gaining the advantages over the other two countries, they actively sent envoys to tribute. The tributary relationship established and developed smoothly. At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, it tried to build the tributary system in which it was the center, in order to prove the legitimacy of its regime and frustrate the hostile forces. So Qing Dynasty asked Ryukyu to tribute. Facing the complex political situation of the continent, Ryukyu adopted a flexible "equidistance diplomacy" strategy to maintain the distance from the Qing Dynasty. Until the "Sanfan Rebellion" was pacified and the Qing's rule was solid, it was established a stable tributary relationship between Qing Dynasty and Ryukyu. Ming-Qing dynasties formulated the detailed provisions and give preferential treatment to the Ryukyu in tribute site, tribute period, canonization and trade. Ryukyu paid tribute and pleased canonization in accordance with the provisions, learning the advanced Chinese culture by sending persons to China.Chapterâ…¢explores the impact of Japan to the tributary relationship of Ming-Ryukyu and the response, measures of the two countries. Because of the geographic proximity, there existed economic and cultural exchanges between Japan and Ryukyu for a long time. The Japanese forces expanded gradually in Ryukyu. Ming Dynasty noticed the relation. Xuande Emperor had tried to restore tributary relations with Japan through Ryukyu. During Jiajing period in which Japanese pirates was rampant, Ming Dynasty and Ryukyu shared common interests on maintaining stability in the East Asian Seas and the normal development of the tributary relationship, so the two sides adopted the cooperation position to suppress the pirates. But the pirates also influenced the tributary relationship. There begot a controversy on the canonization between Ming and Ryukyu. In Renchen War, Ming Dynasty tried to obtain information of Japan through Ryukyu. Facing the threat of Japanese force, Ryukyu relied on the tributary relationship as a guarantee of national security and actively gathered the information to pass to Ming Dynasty. After Renchen war, Ming Dynasty adopted a more severe coastal strategy to reduce contact with overseas forces. Ryukyu wanted to gain closer ties with Ming Dynasty in order to ensure national security. Ming Dynasty disputed with Ryukyu on the canonization again. Satsuma invaded and occupied Ryukyu. Ming Dynasty did not take effective measures to rescue the Ryukyu and excluded it temporarily from the tributary system. Then the two sides also gradually returning to normal contacts. Under the pressure of Japan, Ryukyu had to conceal the relationship with Japan. There began to appear signs of alienation in the tributary relationship.Chapter IV mainly discusses the impact of the western forces on the tributary relationship and countermeasures of Qing Dynasty and Ryukyu. After the Opium War, the Qing Dynasty was forced to sign unequal treaties with Western countries. Ryukyu was also subjected to Western forces. British and French warships continued to arrive in Ryukyu, making hydrographic measurements and maps. British and French also sent missionaries to live in Ryukyu, trying to open Japan's doors through the Ryukyu Islands. Ryukyu plead the Qing Dynasty to help. Qing Dynasty began to start negotiations with the western countries and stressed that the tributary relationship and the moral responsibility to the Ryukyu. In the negotiation process, there appeared the differences on diplomatic principles and methods between the court and Local officials. Because the negotiations failed, Ryukyu was forced to sign trade treaties with the United States, France and the Netherlands. This shows that the tributary relationship was beginning to loosen.Chapter V investigates the Sino-Japan's negotiations on the attribution of Ryukyu. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan adopted external expansion policy and regarded Ryukyu as its main objective of aggression. Tongzhi thirteen years (1874), Japan invaded Taiwan. Qing government confessed that Japan's actions was to protect its people. Later, Japan accelerated the pace to annex Ryukyu. Guangxu five years (1879), Japan announced the Abolition of the han in Ryukyu and annexed Ryukyu formally. Ryukyu plead to Qing Dynasty for help. Qing Dynasty began to negotiate with Japan for a few years. Qing stressed that the tributary relationship between Qing and Ryukyu had survived for a long time, showing that the Ryukyu was its vassal state, while it tried to demonstrate Ryukyu an independent country according to modern international law. So Japan had no right to annex it. Japan insisted that the Ryukyu had become a vassal state of Japan in essence since "Qingchang battle". The tributary relationship could not prove the right of the Qing Dynasty on the Ryukyu. The negotiation failed finally. Ryukyu was annexed. The tributary relationship of Sino-Ryukyu was to end.Chapter VI is the summary to analysis and summarize the characteristics of tributary relationship between Ming-Qing Dynasties and Ryukyu. In the establishment process of the tributary relationship, Ming-Qing dynasties and Ryukyu both considered the interests of the reality. Viewing the dispute about Taking-Canonization and Dispatching-Canonization,the positions of the Ming-Qing dynasties and Ryukyu were different obviously. Ming-Qing Dynasties were not aware of closing Sino-Ryukyu relationship with the national interests. Ming dynasty noticed the Japan-Ryukyu relation but it did not conduct inquiry in-depth, failing to take effective response measures. After the Qingchang Battle, Ming Dynasty adopted a passive defense strategy by excluding Ryukyu from tributary system to protect coastal defense and security. Facing the impact of western forces itself, the tributary system was lack of effective means to proscribe the relations between vassal state and the hostile countries. Ryukyu seek help from the Qing dynasty while it was in distress, adopting a compromised method to the western countries when it faced pressure. Its'foreign representations embodied the profit purposes. When Qing Dynasty negotiated with the Anglo-French on the Ryukyu incident, its representation and channels not only embodied the principles of the tributary system, but also reacted changes in foreign-related institutions. The Ryukyu attribution issue reflected rituals of the characteristics in the relationship between Ming-Qing and Ryukyu. Ming-Qing dynasties had weak sense of the equal country. After Japan annexing Ryukyu, Qing Dynasty negotiated with Japan. It stressed the Qing-Ryukyu relationship based on traditional tributary system. At the same time, it tried to use modern international law to negotiate with Japan. The use of two different principles of diplomatic representations showed that Qing Dynasty was forced to accept the west modern treaty system gradually without abandoning the traditional tributary relations which made it in dilemma.The tributary relationship between Ming-Qing Dynasties and Ryukyu had friendly boosted mutual exchanges, Making a positive effect on the peace and stability in East Asia. But under the impact of Japan and western forces, the relationship became estrange gradually and died out eventually.