Diplomacy Intercourse Between The Southern Dynasty And The Northern Dynasty

Started with the second year of Yuanxi(420AD), which Liuyu founded the Southern Song dynasty, ended with the ninth year of Kaihuang(589AD), which the Chen dynasty destructed, this one hundred and seventy ephemeral years was well-known as the Northern and Southern Dynasties. During this specific period, it was extremely frequent that regimes replaced each other. The relationship between the Southern dynasty and the Northern dynasty was complicated and volatile. Regimes occasionally met in the combat, occasionally sent messenger for peace. The society was turbulent under the situation. The diplomacy intercourse of the Northern and Southern Dynasties was much more intricate than other united dynasties.Diplomacy intercourse was one significant component between the regimes. In the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, despite of opening hostilities sometimes, both sides of the Southern and Northern regimes attempted to be friendly with each other to obtain the stable development of their own. The diplomatic system of the Southern dynasties acquired a further adjustment and development during this time, the diplomatic activities also presented a different feature compared to the before and after dynasties.From several aspects, this paper has mainly analyzed the diplomatic relations of this period from the point of view of the southern dynasties. First, this paper analyzed the diplomatic system from three aspects which is diplomatic decision-making,foreign institutions and diplomatic envoy. Due to the concentration of imperial power,the emperor's autocratic power is more outstanding than dynasty before. The status of Section for Reception and Chamberlain for Dependencies changed in this period. The Section for Reception was responsible for political diplomatic affairs. The Chamberlain for Dependencies was in charge of concrete diplomatic affairs.Diplomatic mission are manifold. From the beginning of the Liang Dynasty, the government pays more attention to send envoys whose needed abundant knowledge,good eloquence and elegant appearance and so on. Second, the paper talked about the diplomatic activities between the Northern and Southern Dynasties according to the period, analyzed the background and reason of this activities. During the Liu Song dynasty, war and peaceful relationship was alternately occurred, the diplomatic relationship of this period had a kind of dynamic balance. Due to the foreign policy changed of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the relationship between the Southern QiDynasty and the Northern Wei Dynasty also changed, no longer send envoys any more. Because the royalty fight for the throne, the Liang Dynasty tended to depend on the Northern Dynasty in diplomatic relationships. The Chen Dynasty carried on the diplomatic policy from the Liang Dynasty, and sought the diplomatic allies for stable regime. At the same time, the paper will discuss the characteristics of diplomatic relationship between the Northern and Southern Dynasties which is unstable peaceful relationships, equality and inequality coexist in this period, irreversible consequences of emperor decision and diplomatic activities influenced by military affairs or internal affairs of a country. Third, the paper will discuss the influence of the diplomatic activities between the Northern and Southern Dynasties from the political, economic and cultural aspects.