On Relations Between Ming Dynasty And Annam

The Ming Dynasty was an essential period for the Sino-Vietnam relations to turn from disorder and instability to standardization and systematization. From the mutual diplomacy point of view, the relations between the Ming Dynasty and Vietnam could be roughly divided into three stages: The first was the Hongwu-Yongle period, during which Emperor Taizhu, on the basis of incorporating the historical experiences and lessons from the Song and the Yuan dynasties, tried to restore the traditional Chinese diplomatic concept to establish an ideal world system of order, peace and good neighborly relations. But the inflation of Annam Chen Dynasty's self-independence awareness met clash with Emperor Taizhu's ideal world concept, which resulted in conflicts continuously on issues such as the suzerain-feudatory relationship, the Champa-Vietnam discord and the boundary disputes between the Ming Dynasty and the Vietnam. Till the period of Emperor Chengzhu, the contradictions intensified greatly and finally a punitive war against Annam was triggered off by Chen Tianping incident. The second was from period Xuande to mid-Jiajing, during which Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xuanzong, after retrospection into Ming's ruling history and actual situation in Annam, decided to abandon the direct rule of Annam and resort to negotiations on the suzerain-feudatory relationship. The Annam Li Dynasty undertook to pay triennial tribute strictly according to the Hongwu system. Boundary disputes were settled through friendly negotiations on the principle of mutual benefit and none-wrangles. With regard to the Champa-Vietnam relationship, the Ming Dynasty made impartial mediations, rather than direct interferences. As a result, during this period of over a hundred years, the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and Vietnam featured stable, peaceful and standard. The third stage was the late Ming period, during which both the Ming and the Annam were on the wane. But because of the twice political power alternation in Annam between the Li and the Mo groups, the Ming Dynasty seized the opportunity to cripple it and conferred its ruler only with the commander-in-chief rank, similar to that of an inner provincial military governor. Even though, the Annam was still of self-governing in essence, no matter it was in the Mo Dynasty, or in the restoration of the Li group. Basically, toward Annam's government alternation, the Ming Dynasty accepted the fait accompli and handled the suzerain-feudatory relationship on the One Annam principle, instead of adhering rigidly to the traditional concept of helping restore the conquered dynasty to keep its rule continued and interfering excessively in Annam's internal affairs. In addition, for the sake of self benefit and security, the Ming Dynasty adopted a support-the-Mo-to-restrict-the-Li strategy to restrain the restoration of the Li group by way of providing safeguard to the remaining forces of the Mo Dynasty. Making a comprehensive view of the development of the ancient Sino-Vietnam relations, we could see that, with Annam's striving for independence as the core, the Sino-Vietnam relations experienced endless cycles of "crisis, war (or military intimidation), compromise and new change or standardization of the mutual suzerain-feudatory relationship". The independence of Annam was reinforced after every cycle, and the relations between China and Vietnam moved further into standardization and systematization. In regard to the Ming-Annam diplomatic relations, to some extent Annam gained the initiative. The Ming Dynasty was mostly in a passive position, and the scholar-officials had to change their policies now and then to suit the new changes of mutual relations.