On The Diplomatic Envoys Of The Tang Dynasty

A comparatively fully-developed diplomatic system is established in the Tang Dynasty on all levels of government, from central to local. As messengers of transmitting information between China and foreign countries, diplomatic envoys implement and carry out the foreign policy of the Tang Dynasty directly and played an important role in the diplomatic history. The thesis attempts to make a relatively thorough analysis of diplomatic envoys, aiming to have some help to today's diplomatic system of our country. It consists of five parts as follows:Partâ… : Overview of the Tang diplomats. Tang Dynasty send many types of diplomats, and their mission is very complicated, involving the political, military and cultural aspects. According to the mission, they can be divided into dozen kinds. The diplomats include which are clearly referred to in the history books: envoys of conferring a title ,envoys of condolence, envoys for passing the news of somebody's death, envoys for passing the news of the emperor's throne, envoys for offering amnesty and enlistment to rebels ,envoys for cementing relations with rulers of ethnic minorities in border areas by marrying daughters of the royal family to them, envoys for negotiations , envoys for replying to the foreign envoys' New Year greetings, envoys for replying to the foreign envoys' friendly contacts,envoys for accusing foreign and so on. There are many diplomat management agencies , but they aren't chaotic. Tang establishes an effective set of systems from central to local, with a clear and meticulous functions, which can coordinate with each other basically.Partâ…¡:The selecting and appointing system of diplomatic envoys in the Tang Dynasty .Tang Dynasty contacts with the outside world frequently, in order to pursue its foreign policy better and safeguard national interests, Tang choices the diplomats very carefully. The fundamental criteria include: neat appearance, words full of logic; familiar with the situation outside and the expertise of external exchanges; the courage to take responsibility; pay attention to select some prestigious aristocratic ministers. The qualifications and priorities include: to serve as the civilian mainly and military attache supplemently; most of the ministers around the emperor; most officials have the power of supervision. The selecting of Tang Dynasty envoys hasn't only rigorous selection system,but also forms electing practices and standards in the practice of foreign affairs activities. It is an important manifestation in perfect system of the Tang Dynasty diplomacy. Generally speaking,the ministry of supervision is responsible for the choice of diplomats in Tang Dynasty. In addition, the emperor and prime minister can appoint envoys directly .The other way is " recruitment"Partâ…¢: The etiquette of the National domain gave to Tang envoy, mainly take Japan for example. Japan has always regarded Tang Dynasty as its neighbours , and wants to establish equal relations with Tang Dynasty. The ceremony of meeting foreign envoys is a symbol of this country's position and authority,so in order to show it, Japan receives Tang envoys on a positive attitude. Japan receives Tang diplomats using corresponding etiquettes when they enter Japan , access to the capital of Japan and leave Japan .Although Japan gives a equal etiquette to Tang envoys, and strives to increase its international status, the powerful Tang also places Japan in its own order. Tang is still the centre of the world.Partâ…£: The administrative system of the diplomatic envoys in the Tang Dynasty. In order to push envoys to accomplish diplomatic mission ,Tang Dynasty improves the diplomatic system. It enacts pefect rules,regulations and strict discipline to regulate envoys, and sometimes the emperor would issue personally rescripts and edicts to standardize diplomats in order to strengthen their management. The management is not static. The loopholes in the management can be corrected timely and fixed in the form of rescripts. At the same time , Tang Dynasty also adopts the concrete ways and establishes the mechanisms of monitoring to strengthen the management of the diplomatic envoys: rewarding those who are able to complete diplomatic mission better, punishing those who are out of duty. Among of them, We can see Tang's management and supervision to the diplomatic envoys is not only subtle, but also more comprehensive level.Partâ…¤: The historical influence of Tang diplomats. In the diplomatic history of Tang, the diplomats recive orders directly from the Tang Dynasty's emperors, and they are related with Tang and foreign countries. Their frequent diplomatic intercourses don't play an important role only in promoting the ecnomic and cultural exchange and development between china and foreign countries , but also in the diplomatic activities . They are the vindicators of the creation and development of the bilateral relations and the executants of foreign policy. At the same time, based on their understanding of the exotic,Tang constitutes new diplomatic strategy. So the historical position of diplomats is very important.