是“藩属体系”还是“朝贡体系”?——以唐王朝为例

Fence-vassal System or Tributary System:An Example of the Tang Dynasty

关于历史上东亚存在的政治秩序,以往学者有不同的命名和解读。本文在梳理已有观点的基础上,以唐王朝构建的政治秩序为例,认为朝贡活动只是唐王朝构建和维持"天下"秩序运转的政策之一,其存在的前提是政治上的隶属关系。东亚历史上藩属体制的存在多数情况下呈现多样化,既有中原王朝主导的一个大藩属体制,也有数个藩属体制并存的情况,而在大的藩属体制之下也经常会存在着若干个小的藩属体制,其内部也会存在着各种不同的朝贡现象。但无论是册封,还是朝贡,都是历代王朝维持这一体制运转的具体治策和措施,本意是"藩卫"核心地区的安全,而且从"藩臣"、"属国"区域共同构成"边疆"的角度,称为藩属体系也更为恰当。

Previous scholars have used different names and interpretation to describe the political order in historical East Asia.Taking the history of the Tang Dynasty as an example,the author believes that tributary activity is just one of the Tang Dynasty's policies to construct and sustain its ' under sky' order,the prerequisite of the policy is the political submission relations between Tang and its vassals.In most part of the history of the East Asia,there were multiple fence-vassal systems.When there was a China-centered Fence-vassal System,there were other small fence-vassal systems in the periphery area,and tributary activity went on in each of the systems.Whether the titles-conferring or the tributary activities,they were all the polices to maintain the fence-vassal systems to insure the security of central area.Since the fence subjects and vassal states constitute the borderland,it is more fitting to use the name ' fence-vassal system'.