THE CHINESE TRIBUTE THE CHINESE TRIBUTE SYSTEMSYSTEMBy: Annie Hoang & Austin ErkeBy: Annie Hoang & Austin Erke

The Chinese Tribute System The Chinese Tribute System BackgroundBackground

The system in which early modern China used in The system in which early modern China used in trade, which was later on also practiced by trade, which was later on also practiced by different countriesdifferent countries Trade was made through exchanging gifts with the Trade was made through exchanging gifts with the

emperor (tributes)emperor (tributes) The quality of the goods received is derived from the The quality of the goods received is derived from the

quality of the goods givenquality of the goods given Hated by EuropeansHated by Europeans

Said to be the cause of the Opium War when foreign Said to be the cause of the Opium War when foreign diplomats were required to kneel down to China diplomats were required to kneel down to China diplomatdiplomat

Said to sabotage trade into making it ritualizedSaid to sabotage trade into making it ritualized People who did not acknowledge “sinocentrism,” People who did not acknowledge “sinocentrism,”

a perspective that views China as superior to all a perspective that views China as superior to all other nations, were considered barbaric and other nations, were considered barbaric and excluded from tribute rituals or major limitations excluded from tribute rituals or major limitations on tradeon trade

Chinese Culture OutlookChinese Culture Outlook

Although principles fit all, Although principles fit all, they saw themselves as the they saw themselves as the only true civilizationonly true civilization

Mandate of Heaven: The Mandate of Heaven: The Chinese emperor was seen Chinese emperor was seen as the one representation of as the one representation of all humanity “before the all humanity “before the heavens”heavens” Inner circle (people hired Inner circle (people hired

by the emperor himself by the emperor himself to work around him):to work around him): Gives tribute, which Gives tribute, which

was “theoretically” was “theoretically” voluntaryvoluntary

Pays mandatory taxesPays mandatory taxes

Symbolic Importance in Symbolic Importance in ExchangeExchange

Foreign goods: exotic, impressive to obtain Foreign goods: exotic, impressive to obtain and gives the emperor good, flashy imageand gives the emperor good, flashy image Ex. Ming rulers saw themselves as higher than any Ex. Ming rulers saw themselves as higher than any

rulers because they had exotic animals in their zoorulers because they had exotic animals in their zoo

Emperor goods in return: refinement and Emperor goods in return: refinement and civilization, such as Confucian books, silk, civilization, such as Confucian books, silk, porcelain, and paper moneyporcelain, and paper money

Cycling tributes: tributes received were often Cycling tributes: tributes received were often given as a gift from a diplomat to another given as a gift from a diplomat to another merchant to somewhat display their powermerchant to somewhat display their power

Different Sides to the Tribute Different Sides to the Tribute SystemSystem

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Traders, including people of Traders, including people of their own, began complaining their own, began complaining about the low quantity of about the low quantity of gifts that does not match the gifts that does not match the value of the goodsvalue of the goods

Stimulated a cheat system Stimulated a cheat system resulted in the people just resulted in the people just coming back for more even coming back for more even though the trade was not fairthough the trade was not fair The Tribute Exchange also The Tribute Exchange also

gave additional value to gave additional value to Chinese goods because it Chinese goods because it upheld the title of an upheld the title of an emperor’s offeringemperor’s offering

AdvantagesAdvantages

Gave currencies defining Gave currencies defining a common marketa common market Paper MoneyPaper Money SilkSilk

Created a worthwhile Created a worthwhile market through quality market through quality of goods, or the values of of goods, or the values of themthem

It sets up a world where It sets up a world where elites can do business elites can do business with people similar to with people similar to themselves, with a themselves, with a lessened risk of failinglessened risk of failing

““The tribute trade was no less The tribute trade was no less commerce for being ritualized−and no commerce for being ritualized−and no less ritualized for being commerce.”less ritualized for being commerce.”