傳統東亞區域秩序的再思考－－朝貢制度之原則、規範與實踐

Rethinking the Traditional East Asian Regional Order － The Tribute System as a set of Principles, Norms,and Practices

儘管受到傳統用法的侷限，朝貢制度的觀念捕捉到過去東亞的對外關係與政治的主要特色。因此，只要加上修正及詳細闡述，朝貢制度仍然可以代表一個有用的模式。於是筆者將創造出一個以朝貢制度為國際社會的精細模型，並仔細檢視其組織原則、規範與實踐。首先，筆者以多面向的觀點，檢視朝貢制度的精細模型（包含其子制度在內）。其次，筆者將把朝鮮的「事大交鄰」制度描述為一個半朝貢制度，並把交鄰之道（孟子）描述為一種原則。第三，筆者檢視這種制度時，乃將其視為以儒學或理學觀念及概念為基礎的一整套原則、規範和實踐，把重點放在作為「禮」之基礎的兩個觀念----公天下及理，以瞭解傳統東亞區域秩序的組織原則。第四，筆者探討兩個二分法個別的意義：道家學說的階層制度/同等，與儒家學說的不平等/平等。筆者指出主權可以是----也確實是----可分割的，藉此說明朝貢國的「地方」主權。最後筆者列出幾個朝貢制度在現代崩潰的原因，並就中國面對全球治理的手段及策略提出觀察，臆測東亞未來新的區域秩序。

Despite the limits of its traditional usage, the concept of the tribute systemcaptures a prominent feature of historical East Asian foreign relations andpolitics. As such, with revision and elaboration, the tribute system could stillrepresent a useful model. Therefore I will create an elaborated model,constitutive of the tribute system as international society, and scrutinize itsorganizing principles, norms and practices.First, taking a multi-dimensional view, I examine an elaborated model of thetribute system including its subsystems. Second, I describe the Korean sadaekyorin(C: shida, serving the big; jiaolin, the interrelationship with neighboringcountries) system as a semi-tribute system, and “the way of kyorin” (Mencius) asa principle. Third, I examine the system as a set of principles, norms andpractices based upon Confucian or Neo-Confucian ideas and concepts, focusingon two of them, gong tianxia (All-under-Heaven as, or for, the public) and li(principle, law, or reason) as the basis of li* (rites), to understand the organizingprinciples of the traditional East Asian regional order.Fourth, I explore the distinctive meaning of two dichotomies:hierarchy/parity in Daoist discourse and inequality/equality in Confuciandiscourse. Noting that “Sovereignty can be – and is – divisible”, I explain thesignificance of the “endemic” sovereignty of the tributary states. I conclude withseveral reasons for the collapse of the tribute system in the modern era, andobservations on China’s approach to global governance and strategy, speculatinga new East Asian regional order in the future.