中印海上互动：宋至明初中国海上力量在印度洋沿岸的崛起

The Maritime Interaction Between China and India: The Rise of Chinese Naval Power along Indian Coast during the Song Dynasty to the Early Ming Dynasty

本文考察中国作为一支海上力量在宋代出现,以及在明代早期达到巅峰时期,中国和印度之间的海上互动。经济需求、蒙古帝国争霸和明代早期统治者宣扬华夏文明的愿望,给中国经营海洋边疆及更远区域带来了许多深刻的变化。而已通过贸易和佛教跟中国沿海建立起密切联系的印度沿海,至此成为宋元华商、船舶和使臣的一个主要目的地。明代早期,这些交流因郑和舰队企图干涉南亚王国地方争端而变得更加复杂,尤其在孟加拉和马拉巴沿海。

This paper examines the maritime interactions between China and India in this context of the emergence of China as a naval power during the Song dynasty through to its peak in the early Ming period. It shows that while for most of the first millennium the Chinese dynasties remained disinterested in actively participating in maritime exehanges, during the second millennium economic needs, the rivalry among the Mongol empires, and the desire of the early Ming rulers to propagate Chinese civilization brought about changes to the Chinese engagement with its maritime frontier and the regions beyond. The Indian coast, which was already linked to the Chinese coast through trade and Buddhist networking, became a key destination for traders, ships, and diplomats from Song and Yuan China.