有界与无边:马光明案与清代乾隆时期天下观念之再探讨

Bounded and Boundless:Cases of Ma Guangming and Re-exploration of the Concept of Tianxia in Qianlong period Qing Dynasty

本文从乾隆八年(1743)至乾隆十三年(1748)间涉及苏禄贡使马光明的三件案子入手,考察了清代前期的民人出入国政策与清朝外交文书的书写特征。通过对此二者的研究,发现清朝前期的疆域观中存在着"有界"与"无边"的矛盾。"有界"是指清朝的海疆统治奉行内外有别的管理原则,"突出内治""拒绝外请"是清朝在东南海疆的统驭特点。"无边"指的是清朝的外交文书中隐含着以"无外"为特征的天下观意识。"怀柔远人","天下一家"是清廷在处理外交事件中最经常强调的政治原则,朝贡体系是此原则实践的绝佳场域。这种矛盾而复杂的疆域观表明,中国在清代前期已经出现了向"民族国家"转化的前兆。就此而言,晚清以来,社会价值体系的重塑是迫于西方列强武力入侵的结果,也是中国人不断追问自我身份、追问国家性质的必然选择。

Based on three cases in which Ma Guangming,the Sulu tributary ambassador,was involved from 8 th year(1743)to 13 th year of Qianlong Reign,this paper examines the policy of exit and entry administration and writing characteristics of diplomatic documents at the early stage of the Qing dynasty.It shows that there is a contradiction between"bounded"and"boundless"in the concept of territory at that time."Bounded"refers to different principles governing the sea territory inside and outside."Highlighting internal governance"and"refusing foreign requests"were the characteristics of the Qing dynasty’s rule in the southeast sea territory."Boundless"refers to the concept of Tianxia,featuring"beyond boundary",which Qing’s diplomatic documents imply."Cherishing people from afar"and"Tianxia Yi Jia"(All under heaven are of one family)were the political principles that the Qing dynasty mostly emphasized in dealing with diplomatic affairs,and the tributary system was the perfect practice of this principle.This contradictory and complex concept of territory indicates that China is transforming into a"nation-state"in the early Qing dynasty.From this point of view,the reconstruction of social value system since the late Qing dynasty is the result of the armed invasion of western powers,and also the inevitable choice for Chinese people to constantly inquire about their identity and the nature of the country.