封贡体系:一个传统国际秩序的终结

Tributary System: The End of a Traditional International Order

关于古代东亚封贡体系和东亚国际秩序的争论由来已久,本文试图从观念—制度—体系—秩序四个层次入手,对天下观念、封贡制度、东亚封贡体系及东亚封贡秩序四个概念的逻辑关系做出解读,以期理解传统中国与东亚国际秩序的关系。具体来说,随着中国对外交往的扩大,先秦时期的天下观念发展成为秦汉、唐宋及至明清时期的册封—朝贡制度,中国与周边国家和地区之间封贡活动逐渐制度化和常态化,在东亚地区形成了一个以中国为中心的封贡体系,构成了东亚地区的传统国际秩序。

There has been a long debate about East-Asia tributary system and East-Asia order. Based on four levels of concept-institution-system-order, this paper attempts to make certain interpretation of the logic relations among ＂the concept of Tianxia＂, ＂tributary institution＂, ＂tributary system＂, and ＂tributary order＂, expecting to understand the relationship between traditional China and East-Asia world order.