Pin Li Study Of The Zhou Dynasty

Pin Li is a kind of diplomatic action by sending messengers among the emperorand princes in the Zhou Dynasty. There are mainly three types: the emperor visiting theprinces, the prince visiting the emperor and the princes visiting each other. With thedevelopment of history environment from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring andAutumn Period and the Warring States period, the form and contents of Pin Li isconstantly changing. It has experienced the process of rise, prosperity and decline. Theobject of study is to investigate Pin Li of the Zhou Dynasty, to review literature onetiquette and to estimate the historical value of these records. The full text is dividedinto seven parts:Chapter I, to define Pin Li, explore the Pin Li’s origin and its development in theShang Dynasty."Pin" has three meanings: access, marriage, hire. In this article itmeans access. The meanings of "pin" revealed the origin and changes of Pin Li. Thereare many theories about the origin, the theory of association is the most instructive andpersuasive one. Its typical characteristic is sending messengers for friendly intercourse.Activities with this feature could be considered as Pin Li in oracle and bronzeinscriptions materials. For example, the oracle "sent an emissary to a certain place"could be regarded as Pin Li, which partly reflects the condition of Pin Li in the ShangDynasty. Materials shows that Pin Li has been developed fully in the Shang Dynasty,and messengers contacted the king and the princes. But the effect of messengers is notobvious.Chapter II, according to bronze inscriptions materials, to discuss theimplementation of Pin Li in the Western Zhou Dynasty. To the time of the WesternZhou, the main contents of Pin Li were sending messengers from the emperor toprinces. These access events are commonly expressed with "Xing","Ning" in the bronze inscriptions. So did the queen and the ministers. It was not common thatprinces visited the emperor. They usually need to visit the emperor themselves. Princesrarely visited each other, too. In addition, there were messengers between the ZhouDynasty and other small countries. The monarch of a small country still need to visitthe emperor. Yinjianli was a special diplomatic way between the emperor and theprinces. Messengers who dispatched by the emperor called several princes togetherand held a rally. There are some changes in practice. Records about Yin Jian Li inbronze inscriptions and Zhou Li have both similarities and differences. The etiquettedescribed in Ba Bo Yu is similar with that in Yi Li, but different in details. This showsthat Bin Li have quite improved at the early Western Zhou Dynasty, not yet completelyset.Chapter III, to analysis the characteristics and developing trajectory of Pin Liduring the Spring and Autumn Period. The emperor declined and five overlordsreplaced in the Spring and Autumn Period. Pin Li was becoming very sparse betweenthe emperor and princes, but more frequent among princes. The contents of Pin Liwere deeply influenced by the overlord. In the early stage of that Period, Pin Li mainlyoccurred between neighboring countries. In the mid-term of the Period, the princesvisited the overlord with coins, based on which tribute was formed gradually. Then PinLi gradually became a tool of economic exploitation by the overlord. In the late Springand Autumn Period, diplomatic actions between princes were reduced significantlyalong with the decline of the overlord. The imbalance of giving and repay was themain characteristic of Pin Li during that time. Between large and small countries therewere great differences in the number of visitations and coins. That eventually led to thedecline and fall of Pin Li. Pin Li has playing an important part in political regulation.Economic and cultural exchanges had been strengthened Objectively. Messengers wereplaying an important role in Pin Li. Xing Ren most served by literati and officialdom.So they mainly had achieved a high cultural and professional accomplishment. TheirResponsibilities were diplomatic affairs which was often related to national security,such as sending messengers to foreign countries, receiving guests from other countries, and so on.Chapter IV, to research Pin Li by a comparative approach. The contents of Pin Licould be divided into five parts,33sections. Humble, respectful and convenience,these are principles in formulating the etiquette in Pin Li. It reflects that the book isinfluenced by the Confucian ethical thought. Compared Pin Li with Zuo Zhuan inrecords about Pin Li, we have discovered several results as follows: firstly, somerecords are similar in two books, just different in details. This shows that the basicsteps of Pin Li at the Spring and Autumn Period are concordant. Secondly, somerecords are not the same, even inconsistent. These evidences could prove that it hadexisted. The differences are mainly due to the breach of etiquette by princes or theliterati and officialdom. Thirdly, some contents are found in one book but not in theother. Specific analysis should be made to find out the reasons. The comparative studyshows that Pin Li is based on historical facts, though it is written by confucian scholarswith uniform compilation and idealization.Chapter V, to investigate officials in Pin Li. Pin Li plays an important role inpolitical life of the Zhou Dynasty. Lots of officials participated in activities. Itdescribed the ceremony between the princes, so the officials are most ministers of theprinces, messengers and host country officials. Their responsibilities described in PinLi are similar with Zhou Li. The historical origins could be found in the historicaldocuments like Zuo Zhuan, Guo Yu. The bureaucracy system in Pin Li that Zai is thehighest government official is close to the official system in Zhou Li, as well as theofficial system of princes such as Lu, Song at early Spring and Autumn Period.Chapter VI, to analysis ChaoPin system in Zhou Li and review Bin Li officials.Chao Pin activities have been recorded perfectly and rigorously in Zhou Li, whichincluding Cun, Tiao, Xing (emperor to princes), Shi Pin, Yin Tiao, Chao Jian and HuiTong (princes to emperor). ChaoJian included four types: Chao, Jin, Zong, Yu.HuiTong also included four types, namely: ShiJian, YinJian, XunShou, YinGuo.Between the princes there are Chao Pin activities, too. In the book of Zhou Li, theauthor records etiquette of the Zhou Dynasty with idealization. Binli officials are recorded in detail in Zhou Li.Chapter VII, to explore the development of Pin Li in the Warring States period.The influence of Pin Li was weakened during the Warring States Period with theregulation and changes of the princes. Pin Li was held no longer as frequently asbefore. However, we could find out its influence from materials such as bronzeinscriptions and bamboo slips. Communications between the seven countries were veryfrequent. Many countries had the official position of Xing Ren which were served by alot of eloquent people. Because of the more complex and diverse practice at theWarring States period, the diplomatic etiquette inheriting from Pin Li of the Spring andAutumn Period has appeared new changes.