The Motivation Research Of Tributary System Established By Ming Dynasty

Currently, there are four main academic perspectives on the tributary system, including Fairbank tributary system pattern, historical studying of tributary system, tributary trade research method, and international institution approach. This paper tries to construct a comprehensive research framework covering superiority, legality, and security by analyzing the four research approaches about tributary system.Within the research framework, the level of superiority and orthodox legitimacy lay the foundation for dynasty-state to peruse for security motivation, while the primary purpose of dynasty-state to establish tributary system is actually for the sake of security. For example, Ming dynasty had characteristics of lacking superiority and ambiguous regime legitimacy, which directly led to the absence of safety during the Hongwu period (1368-1398). Thus, in order to achieve the safety of dynasty-state, the first emperor of Ming dynasty launched many wars against Post-imperial Mongolia and created tributary relations with its neighboring countries. Therefore, the above two tactics were actually two fundamental tools to protect the security of Ming dynasty. Although war was the essential measure to protect the security of Ming dynasty, the establishment of tributary system also played a significant role in maintaining imperial security.In this sense,even if the establishment of tributary system was intrinsically the derivative and by-product resulted from seeking dynasty-state’s security, it was also a flexible and rational strategic option of the Ming dynasty Therefore, security is the fundamental motivation of tributary system created by dynasty-state,and the establishment of tributary system is the final crystallization of history for pursuing safety of country.From a profound perspective, tributary system was preserved as a persisted and stable institution in the history of imperial China whereas war has already faded from our memory,which mentions us that tributary system, just like a mirror of history,reflects a real historical appearance disclosing the fact that war and tributary system are flexibly exploited by the Ming dynasty, while the fundamental motivation of tributary system could be ascribed to consideration for the national security of dynasty-state.