從天下到地上－天下學說與東亞國際關係的檢討

From Heaven to Earth: A review of tianxia theories and pre-modern international relations in East Asia

甘懷真(Huai-Chen Kan)

《臺大東亞文化研究》 5期 (2018/04) Pp. 289-317

https://doi.org/10.6579/NJEAC.201804_(5).0016

摘要

本文主旨在檢討既有的天下學說，並重新思考以天下學說探討中國政體與東亞國際關係的可能性。過去的天下研究過度受到近代民族主義史觀中的帝國想像影響，我們必須回到歷史上的行動者的脈絡，從制度史的角度，重新探討這個課題。天下是國際關係的制度，但這樣的國際關係須置於中國的皇帝制度的脈絡中理解。本文從「家－國－天下」的觀點，探討地域社會的政團如何建國，並運用天下制度以建立其國際關係。時代為第十世紀之前。本文的重點也在檢討冊封體制。過去的冊封體制研究過度將重點置於國與國的關係上，其實冊封體制作為天下制度的一環，重點在各政團首長如何利用中國官職以建構彼此之間的政治關係與地位。

關鍵字

天下 ； 國際關係 ； 冊封體制 ； 東亞世界 ； 帝國

並列摘要

This study aims to review and rethink previous scholarship involving the tianxia(all under Heaven) theories, raising the possibility for discussing the pre-modern Chinese political system and international relations in East Asia. The scholarship on tianxia has been strongly influenced by the ＂imperial imagination＂ based on nationalist historiography; therefore, it is necessary to revive the aforementioned discussions through an institutional historical approach and by tracing back to the historical contexts within which all agents were simultaneously shaping the trajectory of history. The tianxia system is a framework for pre-modern international relations in East Asia, but this international relations should be understood in the context of Chinese Imperial systems. By focusing on ＂jia(oikos)-guo(state)-tianxia＂ system in China before the 10th century, this study examines how local political unions established states and developed their international relations by adopting the tianxia system. This study also reassesses the theories of the Chinese investiture system. While too much emphasis have been put on the ＂international＂ relations by previous scholarship, the Chinese tributary system, as a part of the tianxia system, should be highlighted in terms of how the rulers of these political units in East Asia consolidated their statuses and fostered their political relations with other states by using their nominal titles from Chinese emperors.

並列關鍵字

tianxia ； international relations ； investiture system ； East Asia ； empire