A Study On The Official Tribute Issue Of Kang Xi Period Of The Qing Dynasty

The official tribute was consisting of two forms in Kang Xi years of Qing Dynasty.One is that the officials who are on behalf of the local government paid the tributes to the central government.This form was regarded as the obligation of the local government.It belongs to taxes,but to be dedicated to the central government as tributes.The other form is that the officials paid the tributes to the emperor in the name of themselves.This form was not the obligation.This essay analyses the tributes from these two aspects.Firstly,to discuss the tributes from the following aspects: the collection method;the collection mechanism;the qualification of the officials.The obligatory tribute was charged by the unit price,the collection mechanism were Ministry of Revenue,Ministry of Works and Ministry of Rites.Individual tribute was the personal action of officials and the collection mechanism is the Ministry of Internal Order.There is no obvious difference between the two forms in the qualification of the officials.Secondly,to discuss the tributes from their attributes: the obligatory tribute ordered by the government was mainly the daily used things in large quantities;the individual tribute was random,most of which were the local specialties.The tributes were not only used to satisfy the daily usage of the imperial household and the State,but also were used in imperial sacrifice,imperial architecture,imperial award and so on.Through studying the official tribute system,we get to know that the tribute system could satisfy the daily life needing of the imperial household,strength the connections of central government and local government;deepen the relationships of the emperor and officials.However,its disadvantages are that it consumed plenty of financial resources and labors.The obligatory tribute,which was regarded as a tax in Qing Dynasty,was compulsive and political obligation.However,the individual tribute of the officials was random in early Qing Dynasty.It was in bud in Kang Xi years;developed into a firm political obligation in Yong Zheng years and got to the summit in Qian Long years.Therefore,it was very important to discuss the official tribute in Kang Xi years in the tribute system in Qing Dynasty.The meanings and effects on the official tribute system are very great and meaningful.