Chaogong – the system of China’s relations with the outside world

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Chaogong – the system of China’s relations with the outside world

Journal Title: Revista Romana de Studii Eurasiatice - Year 2006, Vol 2, Issue 1

Abstract

Chaogong – the system of China’s relations with the outside world presents the conclusions to which the sinologist Anna eva Budura came after many years of studying Chinese history. Chaogong is the system developed during many centuries by the Chinese, in order to preserve and develop their national being, a system which came to existence from the specific geographic conditions they were living and producing the necessary means for maintaining their lives, from their specific spirituality and psychological characteristics. As early as 6-5 000 years ago, among the many tribes living on the upper and middle flow of the Yelow River, the tribal union formed by the huaxia began to till the land and built walls to protect themselves from the nomadic tribes. It means that from very beginning of her existence the huaxia Chinese developed a sense of self protection by pacific means, by assuring peaceful conditions using any material means they disposed of the chaogong system became into being in the second Century B.C. and was functioning until to XIX Century with positive or negative results depending on the existing political and economic situation of China. The ideograme chao means audience granted by the emperor to someone and gong, gift, offering of a subject to the sovereign. In foreign languages it was translated as tributary system and perceived as it was practiced in Europe. But chaogong is different from the tributary system practiced in the West. Its ideological substantiation is Confucianism which is against the idea of using arms in order to impose supremacy. Being educated in this spirit and being conscious of the material and spiritual values they posses, the Chinese emperors were willing to share with other peoples the achievements of their realm only to Chinese emperors were willing to share with other peoples the achievements of their realm only to assure peace of their empire and the recognition of their supremacy. Those who accepted the chaogong relationship were asked to pay periodically homage to the Chinese emperor presenting a certain amount of gifts of symbolic value decided by themselves. In order to express his generosity the Chinese emporeror offered them gifts 10 or more times valuable so that in a certain period maintaining this kind of relationship became a financial burden for China.

Authors and Affiliations

ANNA EVA BUDURA

Keywords

Chaogong Confucianism

Mitică Detot, Cunoscând Japonia. Memoriile unui ataşat militar (1975-1987), vol. I-II, Braşov, Ed. Pastel, 2007, 344 p.+295 p.

EP ID EP150259
DOI -
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