中國文化與中國對外行為：「興滅繼絕」理念與朝鮮「壬辰倭亂」

Chinese Culture and China's Behavior: ＂Help the Weak and Aid the Needy＂ in Japanese Invasions of Korea 1592-1598

中國崛起是近年來國際間最引人注目的重大發展。中國究竟會如何運用他日益增長的力量？依照國際關係中現實主義傳統的權力政治邏輯，弱肉強食的叢林法則也就是國際間的法則。在中國力量還不夠的時候，只好「韜光養晦」；但是，當中國強大之後，就可「有所作為」。不過，這樣著重相對力量消長的現實主義物質觀點，卻也受建構主義理念觀點的挑戰：不同的集體理念之下國家會有不同的行為偏好，遂產生不同行為。這國家的集體理念一言以蔽之，就是「文化」。從此，關於中國的帽起，出於西方經驗的權力政治邏輯在中國並不適用，中國文化的核心內涵是講究仁義道德的儒家思想，所以中國崛起之後仍是「永不稱霸」。面對這樣的主張， 不同的研究嘗試進行實證檢驗， 並引導出了一個相對上還被忽略而值得持續探索的環節：中國儒家文化的作用之下，中國除了自我克制不恃強凌弱，是否也會自我期許成就義舉呢？儒家思想中有所謂「興滅繼絕」的俠義理念，這是否就如一般所常見，只是個高尚但虛幻的空談？還是說也曾真的落實在中國的對外行為上？對此，本文以明朝對朝鮮的救援為案例進行實證檢驗，以對現實主義與建構主義的競爭觀點作一評判，並有助於吾人面對崛起的中國。

China's rise is the most notable event in international politics in recent years. How exactly will China employ its growing power? According to the realist tradition of power politics, the law of the jungle is the law of the international arena. When China is not powerful enough, China has its ＂low profile＂ policy. When China is strong enough, China can ＂make a difference.＂ However, this realist perspective is challenged by Constructivism. Different countries have different collective ideas of behavioral preferences, and these different ideas then produce different behaviors. Collective idea, in a word, is ＂culture.＂ Chinese culture is so different from the Western cultures. Thus, the powers politics of Western experience does not apply to China. The core substance of Chinese culture is Confucian virtue and morality. Given these value, a powerful China will ＂never seek hegemony.＂ This proposition is verified by different empirical studies, but an important issue is relatively ignored. Under the influence of Chinese culture, in addition to its self-restraint on bullying others, will China help others regardless the gains and losses? ＂Help the weak and aid the needy＂ is a key virtue in Confucianism. Is this just a noble but illusory rhetoric as commonly asserted? Or is it implemented in China's external behavior? This study exams China's support to Korea during the late Ming dynasty to explore the answer to this puzzle. The finding of this study will help us in the face of a rising China.