试析明代藏区土司的朝贡制度

On the Tribute System of the Tibetan Chieftains in Ming Dynasty

朝贡制度是中国的封建王朝为处理与周边民族地区及海外各国的关系而建立的一种政治经济制度。明廷根据藏区土司朝贡的实际情况,不断调整作为土司制度一个重要组成部分的朝贡制度,依次来强化藏区土司制度,以便有效治理我国广袤的藏区。文章对于明代藏区土司的朝贡类型、贡道、贡期、朝贡者身份及朝贡人数、朝贡物品及赏赐等方面剖析,揭示明代藏区土司朝贡制度的内涵。

Tribute system was a political and economic system formed by the Chinese feudal dynasties to deal with the relations between the regions inhabited by ethnic groups around the nation and overseas countries. Based on the actual situation of the Tibetan chieftains＇ tributary, the government of Ming Dynasty made constant adjustments to the tribute system which was an important component of the chieftain system. By doing so the government strengthened the Tibetan Chieftain system with the purpose of the effective management of the large Tibetan areas. The essay does a detailed examination or analysis on the tribute system of the Tibetan Chieftains in Ming Dynasty, more specifically on the tributary types, routes, time, the identity and the number of tributaries, the largess, etc. It also reveals the meaning of the Tibetan chieftain tribute system in Ming Dynasty.