| In the Spring and Autumn Period, political system of Zhou was coming to disintegration, policy of rites-music was also being destroyed, and hegemony arose successively because some kingdoms attacked each other. Therefore, diplomatic relations became an important strategic factor which affected national survival decisions. Chu explored southern border areas alone, and then developed from a small country to a great nation, diplomatic relations played an important role in the expansion of territory, military attacks, economic development and national fusionn.Through detailed investigation of historical documents and data of archaeological excavation, drawing on the results of previous studies, Firstly this paper combs out some related materials on diplomatic issues of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period, then it makes a close and systematic study on the development, evolution and characteristics of Chu's diplomatic relations by comprehensive diplomatic research methods and means of documentation, contrast and logical analysis. Meanwhile, some problems in the field of diplomatic etiquette, diplomats and diplomatic thoughts have been discussed too.Under the premise of defining time spans of Spring and Autumn Period, geographic location of Chu and concept of diplomatic relations, regarding time as the clue, diplomatic relations can be divided into three times:the early Spring and Autumn period, the medium-term Spring and Autumn period and the end of Spring and Autumn period. This article elaborates on these context in details, including thread of diplomatic relations, diplomatic strategy, diplomatic way, relations with vassal kingdoms and others. Early on, Chu made great efforts to build the state of Jianghan diplomatic relations dominated by Chu, then established a new order in diplomatic relations centering on Chu in southern borders of Zhou, as well as a new pattern of diplomatic relations leaded by Chu or power-driven by leading kingdoms in the Central Plains.By searching historical records of pre-Qin, this article not only makes an analysis on some officials of Chu involved in diplomatic affairs, including Taizong, Taizai, Shaozai, ShaoZaiyin, Lianyin, Houren, Xiang, Bin, Jiezhe and so on, but also have discussed about diplomatic power of Lingyin, appointment and role of ambassadors. Chu established quite a good policy-making mechanism and bureaucracy of diplomatic relations from local to central, whose culture of bureaucracy originated in the Western Zhou, then absorbed rich local color of South in the process of evolution.This article makes full and more accurate study on diplomatic etiquette of Chu in the Spring and Autumn Period, like Chaojin, Pinwen, Huimeng and Yan Xiang, and has an analysis of its ritual procedure and meaning. Diplomatic etiquette of Chu originated from rites of the Zhou Dynasty, although it had melted into geographical features of Chu and factors of changing times, they were all much of a muchness, compared with that in the Central Plains. However, the principles of core values like morality and rites had been adhered to at some degree in Chu during the Spring and Autumn period. So it is partial to say Chu is a kingdom of barbarians, where has no civilization.Diplomatic relations of Chu combined traditional Chinese essence with manners of barbarians together. In the long-term diplomatic practice, Chu formed these thoughts about diplomatic relations as follows:keeping to morality and ethics, doing something practical for benefits, emphasizing martial spirit and military forces, going after hegemonic politic. Moreover, economic and cultural exchanges also featured prominently in diplomatic relations of Chu. Chu's people paid much attention to use economic and culture to achieve diplomatic purposes, and pursue economic interests by means of diplomatic relations. Drawing a comparison study of diplomatic relation with States in the Central Plains, diplomatic relations of Chu has such geographical features: political wisdom-dare for the world first, skillful art of diplomatic strategy, growing orientation of economic benefits and unique geopolitics.This paper has an investigation on the development of diplomatic relations of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period. Chu made determined efforts and hard toil to explore mountains and woods, then established a base of Ying around Changjiang, Ju River, Zhang River and Hanjiang River. After consolidating the hinterland, Chu started a large-scale fight from central plains in north to eastern Jianghuai area, broke the barriers of Han River, expanded their living space, robbed strategic resources, improved politic status in diplomacy and integrated into the circle of Chinese civilization actively. In addition, in order to establish a new sequencing of diplomatic relation dominated by Chu in the Spring and Autumn period, Chu successively struggled for hegemony with some vassal Kingdoms-Qi, Song, Jin, and the southern powerful countries-Wu, Yue. To the late Spring and Autumn period, Chu became in the column of "Zhu Xia" from "barbarians", achieving their diplomatic goals-"asking a barbarian to belong to Zhu Xia" and "desire for Chinese policy". |
