IB History Topic Chinese Tribute System Revision Notes (HL)

IB History Topic Chinese Tribute System Revision Notes (HL) | RevisionDojo

The Chinese Tribute System: Nature and Ideology

Worldview
1. Based on Sinocentrism : the belief that China was the center of civilization and other nations were “barbarians.”
Hierarchy
1. Foreign rulers sent tribute to the Son of Heaven (the emperor) as a sign of submission and received imperial gifts in return.
Symbolism
1. The system reinforced the emperor’s Mandate of Heaven and maintained internal prestige.
Trade Control
1. Foreign trade allowed only through the Canton System, tightly supervised by the Cohongmerchants.
Purpose
1. Tribute missions were diplomatic rituals, not commercial negotiations. This misunderstanding this led to Western frustration.

Definition

Cohong

Guild of licensed merchants controlling all foreign trade in Canton (Guangzhou).

Definition

Mandate of Heaven

Traditional Chinese belief that Heaven grants the right to rule based on virtue.

Case study

The Tributary System in Action

How It Worked

Neighboring states such as Korea, Vietnam, and Siam (Thailand) sent tribute missions to China.
Envoys performed kowtow (ritual kneeling) before the emperor to show respect.
China, in return, granted trade privileges, gifts, and titles.
The system maintained regional stability and diplomatic hierarchy.
It projected the image of the Qing as a benevolent world leader.

Strengths and Limits

Maintained peace in East and Southeast Asia for centuries.
Encouraged cultural exchange and formalized trade routes.
But it was symbolic, not reciprocal. It was incompatible with Western ideas of sovereignty and equality.
China viewed participation as submission, not partnership.
Set the stage for conflict when industrialized powers demanded equal trade.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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The Chinese Tribute System: Nature and Ideology

Worldview
1. Based on Sinocentrism : the belief that China was the center of civilization and other nations were “barbarians.”
Hierarchy
1. Foreign rulers sent tribute to the Son of Heaven (the emperor) as a sign of submission and received imperial gifts in return.
Symbolism
1. The system reinforced the emperor’s Mandate of Heaven and maintained internal prestige.
Trade Control
1. Foreign trade allowed only through the Canton System, tightly supervised by the Cohongmerchants.
Purpose
1. Tribute missions were diplomatic rituals, not commercial negotiations. This misunderstanding this led to Western frustration.

Definition

Cohong

Guild of licensed merchants controlling all foreign trade in Canton (Guangzhou).

Definition

Mandate of Heaven

Traditional Chinese belief that Heaven grants the right to rule based on virtue.

Case study

The Tributary System in Action

How It Worked

Neighboring states such as Korea, Vietnam, and Siam (Thailand) sent tribute missions to China.
Envoys performed kowtow (ritual kneeling) before the emperor to show respect.
China, in return, granted trade privileges, gifts, and titles.
The system maintained regional stability and diplomatic hierarchy.
It projected the image of the Qing as a benevolent world leader.

Strengths and Limits

Maintained peace in East and Southeast Asia for centuries.
Encouraged cultural exchange and formalized trade routes.
But it was symbolic, not reciprocal. It was incompatible with Western ideas of sovereignty and equality.
China viewed participation as submission, not partnership.
Set the stage for conflict when industrialized powers demanded equal trade.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

IB History Chinese Tribute System Notes

The Chinese Tribute System: Nature and Ideology

The Tributary System in Action

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

The Chinese Tribute System: Nature and Ideology

The Tributary System in Action

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics