Role of the Vietnamese Diplomatic Envoys in Trade between Vietnam and China during the 18-19 Centuries.

Abstract

After gaining independence in the 10^th century, Vietnam (formerly known as Đại Việt) established diplomatic relations with China based on a “universal order” relationship, wherein China was the “suzerain” and Vietnam was the “tributary state.” Consequently, Vietnam was required to periodically send envoys bearing tribute to Chinese dynasties and perform other diplomatic missions. This activity persisted from the 11^th century until the late 19^th century. However, from the Lê-Trịnh era (17^th century onwards), the envoys sent by Vietnam to China also undertook commercial activities assigned by the Vietnamese court. Based on Vietnamese and Chinese historical sources, this paper provides an overview of the method by which the Vietnamese court, from the Lê-Trịnh era to the Nguyễn dynasty (17^th century to the late 19^th century), dispatched envoys to China; the routes taken by these envoys through established pathways connecting China and Vietnam since the 14^th century; and discusses the role of Vietnamese envoys in concurrent commercial activities during their missions to China in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The paper also lists the tribute items and some goods that Nguyễn dynasty envoys brought to China for tribute or trade, as well as the goods that the envoys purchased for the Vietnamese court.