| Publication |
2011.
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| Summary/Abstract |
During the course of China's continuing rise, Chinese scholars have developed different schools of thought on China and even greater interest in ancient Chinese philosophy and diplomacy. 1 Under this backdrop, research into China's tributary system has become a main academic focus.
Much controversy surrounds both the tributary system and the broader concept of a tributary relationship. The term 'tributary' itself is often misunderstood to mean unilateral behaviour towards China among states in China's periphery, or even to imply that the tributaries direct the relationship. 2 Some scholars are predisposed towards using concepts and terms other than that of 'tributary', for example, the 'Order of Rule by Rites', 3 the 'lord and vassal', 4 and 'grant and tribute' relationships; 5 and the 'Clan and Vassal Institution', the 'Suzerain - Vassal' and 'Clan and Vassal Systems', and the 'Huayi Order'. 6 Zhang Feng argues in observing the wide range of terms and concepts used in the literature that there is strong need for a systematic rethinking of the concept of the tribute system. 7
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