Tributary Activities of Vietnam and Korea with China: Similarities and Differences

Abstract

As two countries using China’s writing system based on pictographic characters, Korea and Vietnam both maintained tributary relations with China during the pre-modern period.49 Compared to other countries in the tributary system, Vietnam and Korea are commonly considered the two archetypal tributary countries. This article examines the common characteristics and the differences in the tributary activities used by these two countries. By considering some aspects of tribute behavior, such as the cause of the tribute, periodicity of tribute, the dispatch of people to pay tribute, characteristics of members of the envoy delegations, the offerings of tribute, and the geographic position of the two countries in the tributary system, this paper describes the typical features of this system and explains the cause for maintaining it for such a long time. This paper also shows the diplomatic behavior of Vietnam - Korea in relations with the dominant neighboring country (China) at that time. These behaviors are still good practices for the two countries in relations with major countries in the region and the world today.

Keywords

• tribute
• vietnam
• korea
• china