The Study Of The Private Overseas Trade In Ming Dynasty

In the abroad trade of Ming dynasty, the private is another form except tributary trade. This article is to discuss the private overseas trade of Ming dynasty comprehensively and systemically.By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the tributary trade and the ban on maritime trade are simultaneous and supplement each other. It is the opposite of the private overseas trade. Generally speaking, both of them are conflicting. In the early days of Ming dynasty, the tributary trade is at its height. But in the end, it had fallen into a decline. However, along with the laxation of the ban on maritime trade, the private overseas trade undergo the process from the dispersedly, small-scaled and lurkingly development in the early days to the emergence of large-scaled arming maritime circle with the delegation of Zheng Shi.In the view of official, the private maritime trade is pirate. Actually they are difficult to distinguish. Tang Shu, the penal official in Jia Jing period, said either pirate or the trader are all people, when the market is open, the pirate will change into the trader and vice versa. Actually, in the traditional society, as long as there were inhabitants in the border of the two countries, the exchange of commodity is necessary and possible. It is the prime reason of the long time existence of the private overseas trade. At the beginning of Long Qing, the development of private maritime trade is flourish. But the management from the official is loose or strict from time to time. At the end of Ming Dynasty, because of the appearance of the arming maritime circle, the development of private maritime trade culminated.At the base of specialists and the scholars, this article is to probe into the reason of the development of the private maritime trade in Ming Dynasty at first. It mostly includes several parts as follows: the development of the commodity economy before Ming Dynasty and in Ming Dynasty provide the substantial elements for the absence and progress of the private overseas trade; the advancement of shipbuilding and seafaring provide the predominant technical condition for the private overseas trade; together with the maritime habitants' strongly demand for the carrying trade; with the ban on the maritime trade, and the stimulation of the mint profit. At the spur of these vantages, the private maritime trade in Ming Dynasty existed and developed at all times.The second part of this article is also the main part. Based on the analysis of the private maritime trade in Ming Dynasty, according to the representative historical events in different periods and traits, this part is divided into four periods. At the beginning of Ming Dynasty(Hong Wu and Jian Wen) (1368-1402) .it is the first period. Because the ban on the maritime trade is very strict in this period. its trait is small-scaled and separated. The second period is from Yong Le to Hong Zhi(1403-1505), because Zhu Di relaxed the ban. together with the impersonal influence of Zheng He's Occident trip, the private maritime trade practice in secret. The third period is Zheng De and Jia Jing(l506-1566), because of the western colonists' coming in succession, and the implement of "Chou fen", there had been real revenue in Ming Dynasty. From now on, the trader could trade freely after "Chou Fen", and the private overseas trade is semi-overt. It is an opportunity, so the trade developed rapidly. The last period is after the open in Long Qing, the ban on maritime trade had practiced for 200 years, and the emperor partly relaxed the ban. The western colonists engaged agency trade between China-Japan. China-Philippine. The private maritime trade developed vigorously and appeared arming maritime circles, and even appeared "maritime empery" with the delegation of Zheng Shi.At last, this article briefly analyses the infections on politics, economy, culture and society coming from the private maritime trade. It is no doubt that it will provide some valuable drawing lessons for modern overseas trade.