The book centers on four main lines, namely institutions of the tributary affairs and their functions managed by the central plains dynasties of ancient China, membership of the tributary system, construction and operation of the tributary system, and the role and features of the tributary system. Meanwhile, the book discusses the generation, development and changes of the tributary system in ancient northeast frontier and its final replacement by the new political system. Starting with the northeast frontier, the typical area in ancient Chinese dynasties, the book discusses not only the characteristics and trends of the tributary system of northeast frontier during the period from Qin-Han to the Early Qing Dynasty but also the relationship of political governance embodied in the tributary system. Then the book explores the real landscape of the tributary system as an important governance system of the central plains dynasties of ancient China.

During the two thousand years from the Qin-Han Dynasties to the Early Qing Dynasty, the tributary system played an important role in the formation and governance of the northeast frontier of successive ancient Chinese dynasties in central plains. The tributary system: First established the subordinate relationship between the central plains dynasties and the northeast frontier. Through titles-conferring and tributary rites alike to build up the monarch-subject concept and the obsession of hierarchy and let tribute presenters regard themselves as the subjects of the central plains dynasties. The system played an important role in establishing and strengthening the relationship between frontier nationalities and central plains dynasties. Second established frontier governance system by central plains dynasties of ancient China. The tributary system had evolved from loose-control policy to special-control policy and finally to the administrative organization system with national characteristics. Through the process, central plains dynasties of ancient China completed the process of the governance of the northeast frontier from formation, establishment and consolidation. Third gained stability of the governance of the northeast frontier. The role of the tributary system was mainly to “Bao Sai An Bian” (to eliminate the rebel forces in the border area). It was important in maintaining the stability of the frontier area and consolidating the frontier governance. Fourth promoted the social development in the frontier area. The real motives for frontier nationalities to pay tribute to central plain dynasties driven by important political interests and substantial economic interests. In the course of the 2000 years of tribute system, an indissoluble economic relationship has gradually formed. Cultural communication and integration strengthened the centripetal force of frontier nationalities towards central China (central plains) dynasties, which reinforced political unity relationship between the northeast frontier and the central China dynasties furthermore.

I.“Naming of Literary History and Reflection in Literary History Viewpoint(《文学史的命名与文学史观的反思》)”

Author: Zhang Fugui

Publication Unit: Peking University Press

Publication Time: March 2014

Awards: Included into the 2013 National Achievements Library of Philosophy and Social Sciences; The First-prize of the Twelfth Social Sciences Excellent Achievement Award of Jilin Province 2018.

Based on the method of dividing stages of Chinese literary history by dynasties and times, the book reflects and renames literary history and puts forward the transient features of the expression of “Modern Chinese Literature” and “Contemporary Chinese Literature”. Since either “Modern” or “Contemporary” refers to the present. While according to the naming tradition of Chinese literary history, the book then suggests “Modern Literature” and “Contemporary Literature” to be corrected as “Literature of the Republic of China (Min Guo) ” and “Literature of the People's Republic of China (Gong He Guo)”respectively and changes the method of naming and staging thereafter accordingly. In terms of the distinction of concept, the book emphasizes the historical concept of time not established concept of meaning. Thereby, the book proposes to include classical Chinese novels, prose and old style poetry into the literary history.

The book adheres to the politics of the times as the driving force of the development of the history of modern Chinese literature and views literature history under the concept of time. It proposes the new democratic view of literature history is still the main body of the literature history and grasps the essential characteristics of Chinese literature history in the 20th century. On this standpoint, the book, based on the concept of time of the literature history, expands the writing and interpretation of the literature history.

The book is not only a pure study of literary history, but also a combination of literary history with cultural history, ideological history as well as writers’ spiritual history. Through essential case studies and with the study of literary history as a manifestation of the exploration of the ideological and cultural changes in Chinese society, the book with its great readability puts forward unique insightful views.