Research On Vietnamese Envoys’ Activities In The Qing Dynasty

Vietnam played an important role in the China-centred tributary system,and also was a significant member of the countries using Chinese characters in the world,along with Korea and Ryukyu.The Sino-Vietnam Suzerainty and Vassal relationship lasted about 200 years,when it was formally established in 1667,and finally ended in 1885,when Vietnam was occupied by France.Within this period, China and Vietam genernally maintained friendly relationship,although there were large or small military conflicts and boundary disputes between the two countries.As a tributary state of China,Vietam had to fulfiled its obligations by sending envoys to Qing Dynasty according to specified tributary time and routes.Due to the heavy responsibilities on their shoulders, diplomatic envoys to China were carefully seleceted by Vietnam government.They had a high level of talent 、skilled diplomacy,and were proficient in Sinology. The envoys were considered of the same impotance with generals and chancellors,and enjoyed great reputation in their own state.Except accomplished their political goals,the vietnamese envoys also enjoyed Chinese natural scenery、folk customs and historical sites and so on in China.They recorded their experiences,including the communications with Chinese,into their books,which are called Vietnamese Yan Xing Literature.These books,which were the results of the vietnamese envoys’ true sentiments,give us a chance to review the sino-vietnam relationship in particular time closely.Based on Vietnamese Yan Xing Literature, this paper analyzes the vietnamese envoys’ characteristics and the psychology before they started off,and makes a brief discussion on their tributary routes.After the above research, the paper firstly analyzes the vietnamese envoys’ activities,including the visits of Chinese temples 、ancient buildings 、and academies.Secondly, the paper sorts out the vietnamese envoys’ role in the the exchange of books between China and Vietnam;Thirdly, the paper deals with the intercourses between vietnamese envoys and local literati 、 official escorts in China,special vietnamese envoy Dang Huy Tru ’ contacts with Chinese. Fourthly, the paper studies the communications between Vietnamese envoys and Korea envoys in China,including the time and place in which those communications occured.Through the research on the activities of Vietnamese envoys in Qing Dynasty,we can have a better understanding of the importance of Vietnamese envoys in communication between Vietnam and China 、Vietnam and Korea.