Korea, Cochin Comparative Study Of The Song Policy

There had been an international relationship system in ancient Asia, linked with tribute connections and centered on Chinese past dynasties. Actually, China had been regarded as the core of the suzerain - vassal relations for a long time. As compared with Tang, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty, on Song Dynasty, the Suzerain-vassal ration presented different characteristics. The Asia in Song Dynasty was diversity. The infrastructure of suzerain-vassal relations and the recognitions and policies by neighboring states also changed accordingly. This change was tightly linked to the regional countries influence.Based on past researches, this article will start its study from Korea and JiaoZhi's view to find the understanding and diplomatic polices of these two countries. From the comparison of Korea and JiaoZhi to Song Dynasty diplomatic policies, we can find the operation model and characteristics of the Suzerain-vassal relations at Song Dynasty. This study will also show us the actual diplomatic position of Song Dynasty, which will help us to understand the international position of Song Dynasty.Korea and JiaoZhi, which were established according to Chinese politics models and systems, were the states heavily affected by Chinese cultural. Both Korea and JiaoZhi were the vassals of Song Empire at the beginning of Song Dynasty. But they also presented various characteristics in their diplomatic policies to Song. Actually, there were significant difference between Korea and JiaoZhi's diplomatic policies. Korea maintained a strict suzerain-vassal relation with Song Dynasty. As soon as independence of Song, Korea actively presented tributes on Song, decorated with Song Dynasty's reign title and took Song Dynasty as the legitimization suzerain. Korea also accepted Song's canonization and only titled itself as Korea King both in domestic and international relations. With the fluctuating of Song, Liao and Jin's influence, Korea had to succumb to Liao and Jin Dynasty separately. During that period, Korea also maintained a strictly suzerain-vassal relation with Liao and Jin Dynasty, used Liao or Jin's reign title and accepted their canonization, just similar to early relation with Song Dynasty. Korea also maintained its courtier attitude to Song Dynasty even during its suzerain-vassal relation with Liao and Jin Dynasty.There were several phases changing in Korea diplomatic policies to Song Dynasty. At the beginning of Song Dynasty, Korea maintained traditional diplomatic policies to Song, just like to Five Dynasties. Korea actively laid tribute and in A.D. 963, Korea used Song's reign title in its state. In order to keep conventional suzerain-vassal relation with Song, Korea accepted canonization of"Korea King". But with failure of Yong-Xi Northern Expedition, Song Dynasty gave up its strategy to recover YanYun Province and its diplomatic policies to align Korea and repress Liao Dynasty. Liao Dynasty also started its aggression to Korea with its military to force Korea to present tribute. Without Song's supporting, Korea had to succumb to Liao and was regarded as vassal of Liao Dynasty. In A.D. 993, Korea began to use Liao reign title of"Tong He". This change showed that Korea diplomatic policy had changed from depending on Song to depending on Liao. The policy that Song Dynasty abandoned Korea in the war of Korea and Liao Dynasty, resulted in Korea to give up suzerain-vassal relation with Song and was far away from Song. From A.D. 1030 to A.D. 1071, the tribute relation between Korea and Song suspended about forty years. But Korea also maintained highly wariness to Liao Dynasty during those years. Till the end of Northern Song, when the relation with Liao began ease, Korea again hoped to keep relationship with Song. This phenomenon was mainly resulted from the admiring on Song Cultural. During the period of Xi-Ning and Yuan-Feng, Korea actively recovered diplomatic relation with Song and once raised the alignment with Song to resist Liao Dynasty. Korea hoped to resist Liao further incursion with Song's help. During this period, Korea presented tribute to Song Dynasty and studied advanced cultural from Song, while Korea also maintained the suzerain-vassal relation with Liao Dynasty. At the end of Northern Song, with Jin Dynasty influence rising, Korea had to face more complex international situation. Korea was also aggressed by Jin Dynasty subsequently. During Southern Song Dynasty, Song suspected collusion between Korea and Jin. The tributes from Korea to Southern Song were refused because Song's suspect. The official diplomatic relationship was cut off because less confidence between Korea and Southern Song. But the civil relation and communication in economics and cultural still went on. Generally speaking, the diplomatic policy to Song Dynasty of Korea was established on the fundamental principles of"Korea Security above everything else". Korea always maintained the diplomatic principle"take powerful company as suzerain and take itself as small vassal"to seek living space among three large countries: Song, Liao and Jin Dynasty.As compared with Korea's policy, JiaoZhi's diplomatic policy was total difference. The suzerain-vassal relation between JiaoZhi and Song Dynasty also existed in the same diversified background. JiaoZhi always was the vassal of Song Dynasty and was not treated by invasion of Liao and Jin. But JiaoZhi didn't strictly maintain the suzerain-vassal relation to Song. In one side, JiaoZhi kept suzerain-vassal relation formally. In another side, JiaoZhi carried out the emperor system: took itself as emperor and used its own reign title in domestic government. Even in the diplomatic certificates to Song Dynasty, sometimes, JiaoZhi also exceeded the suzerain-vassal appellation. During the period of Northern Song, the military center was focused on northward. Song Dynasty was too busy to pay attention on south border, which provided the opportunity for JiaoZhi to continuous expanding. Within the independent expanding, JiaoZhi kept the incursion to south border, Champa and Kmir. Song Dynasty still couldn't keep the restraint to JiaoZhi's expanding at that time. After the Xi-Ning War, Song Dynasty even gave up the strategy to consolidate JiaoZhi and focused on establishing economics and trading relations with it. JiaoZhi initiatively established"mini- world"and compelled Champa and Kmir to present tribute to it, which greatly heighten JiaoZhi's international position.