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Searching for an Alternative Global Order: The Qing Tributary System and the Mechanism of Guanxi

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Abstract

In recent years, the Chinese leadership has openly argued that the international community has to exceed the dominance of the Western-based rules in international relations. Since in the last two centuries these rules have become globally accepted, China’s claim seems to be a hardly imaginable vision. However, according to some scholars’ view, there is a possible historical alternative for the international order, the so-called Chinese Tributary System, which once bounded the East and Southeast Asian states together. The present study examines whether the mainstream schools of the International Relations Theory provide an appropriate tool to understand the characteristics of this system. The study argues that the culturally based “guanxi model” can supply a better explanatory framework to understand the inner logic and the working mechanism of the Tributary System.

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Notes

  1. In reference, see Qianlong huidian: QHD, scroll 56.: LVI., section (line): X.

  2. According to the Qianlong huidian, the countries belonging to the Tributary System were Korea (Chaoxian 朝鲜), Ryukyu Kingdom (Liuqiu 琉球), Sulu (Sulu 苏禄), Annam (Annan 安南), Siam (Xianluo 暹罗), countries of the Western seas (Xiyang 西洋), Mianmar/Burma (Miandian 缅甸), Laos/Lan Xang (Nanzhang 南掌) (QHD, LVI. 6).

  3. According to Confucius, five important human relations (wulun) exist: father–son, husband–wife, ruler–subject, elder brother–younger brother and friend–friend relations. The individual’s social status can only be defined through these relations (Lunyu, 1.2).

  4. The most important type of relationship within the family is the parents–son relationship, the xiao (Lunyu, 1.2.), the highest form of expression of a child’s respect to his parents (Lunyu, 4.18.). In return for their loyalty, the parents take care of the children, i.e. provide them with resources, education, etc. It also serves as the model for expressing respect and loyalty to people with higher statuses (elder brother, ruler).

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Acknowledgements

This research was conducted when the author participated in the Visiting Scholar Program of Fudan Development Institute.

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  1. Pallas Athene Geopolitical Research Institute, 2. Döbrentei utca, Budapest, 1013, Hungary

    Viktor Eszterhai

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Eszterhai, V. Searching for an Alternative Global Order: The Qing Tributary System and the Mechanism of Guanxi. Fudan J. Hum. Soc. Sci. 11, 499–513 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40647-017-0205-8

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