수당대 화친 정책과 주변국과의 역학 관계에 대한 검토

Abstract

In general, Wang Zhaojun (王昭君)’s marriage to a Hun named Huhanye (呼韓邪單于) and Princess Wencheng’s marriage to a Tibetan named Songtsen Gampo are considered as the main examples of the ancient Chinese marriage alliance. However, such practice continued for over a thousand years when looking into Han Dynasty (漢) up to Tang Dynasty (唐) between Han and Hun/Wusun; Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate; Western Wei and Rouran Khaganate; Eastern Wei and Tuyuhun; Eastern Wei and Rouran Khaganate; Northern Qi and Rouran Khaganate; Northern Zhou and Gokturk; Sui & Tang and Tuyuhun/Gokturk; Tibetan Empire, Khitan, Xi, Uyghur Khaganate; Nanzhao, among others. In most cases, princess from Zhongyuan dynasties were married to the kings of neighboring states. However, diverse cases are recorded where princess of neighboring states were married into Zhongyuan dynasties or marriage alliances practiced between neighboring states. Interestingly, the marriage alliances policy of Sui and Tang dynasties, the most powerful dynasties in the history of Chinese dynasties, was executed more frequently than any other dynasty. As highlighted in the Chinese academia, marriage alliance had a positive influence on the future generations in terms of racial union, cultural development, and economic growth. But at the same time, it also had some negative impact with some humiliating cases from the perspective of dynasties, as demonstrated in the tragic case in which a princess of a Zhongyuan dynasty had to be the wife of four qaghans in accordance with the levirate marriage tradition of the Northern nomad. Nevertheless, examination of the reasons for continuous practice of marriage alliances reveals that it was a desperate measure to stabilize the country’s governance in the Sui and Tang dynasties, and that it was frequently affected by the dynamics of neighboring states. As indicated in the preceding research on the amicability policy of the period, the aspects of the policy in the former period of Tang is clearly distinctive from that of the latter period, which reflects the pluralistic dynamics with Tang and its neighboring states. One example of the difference between the former and the latter periods of Tang would be that in the former period, most cases were royal family going hefan Princess, whereas in the latter period, princesses of the direct lineage (眞公主) such as daughters or sisters of the emperor of Tang were dispatched as hefan gongzh, including Princess Ningguo, Princess Xianan, Princess Taihe, Princess Anhua, among others. As indicated in the conversation of Princess Ningguo (寧國公主) who said she was obeying the command of marriage alliance for the well-being of the country. When Tang was in crisis after AnLushan Rebellion, it requested Uyghur Khaganate for military support, which was given to them after they sent Princess Ningguo to marry into the Uyghur Khaganate empire. The marriage alliance of Princess Xianan and Taihe was also for the stability of frontiers of Tang dynasty, suggesting marriage alliance had become a diplomatic measure to control dynamics with neighboring states. By reviewing marriage alliance cases between Zhongyuan dynasties and neighboring states in the former and the latter periods of Sui and Tang dynasties, this paper aims to comprehend the limits of the control of the neighboring states through tribute-investiture system, and focuses on various cases that demonstrate the equal positioning of Zhongyuan dynasties and neighboring states in the mutual relationship. Mainly it will examine the cases when Zhongyuan dynasties conducted marriage alliance in the equal position in order to cease or weaken the military force of neighboring states. A Tang poet, Li Shanfu (李山甫) wrote about Princess Chonghui (崇徽公主) marrying into the Uyghur khan under the governance of emperor Daizong of Tang (唐代宗) in “The Handwriting of Princess Chonghui of Yindi Pass” 『阴地关崇徽公主手迹』. He recites his lamentable resentment over the disgrace his country suffered, saying, “I feel national shame as a man and ask myself who had stated the marriage alliance policy.” This reflects that the marriage alliances contained some humiliating elements that great empires would want to hide. On the other hand, marriage alliances may have been a price to pay in order to maintain or manage the empire. Recently published “China's cosmopolitan empire: the Tang dynasty”, one of Harvard book series of the History of Imperial China, highlights the openness of Tang dynasty as it was the most open and embracing dynasty to various cultures in Chinese history, with an emphasis on Tang being a dynamic country that had close relationships with neighboring states. In such context, as demonstrated with the large envoy of 1,000 of Uyghur people arriving at the capital city to receive Princess Xianan, the daughter of Emperor Suzong of Tang, and the envoy of 2,000 dispatched from Uyghur Khaganate for marriage alliance with Princess Taihe, the daughter of Emperor Muzong of Tang, numerous foreigners coming into Tang dynasty through marriage alliance and the openness of Tang thereafter would have a certain correlation. It may also be possible to speculate that the national well-being at the expense of the princesses of Zhongyuan dynasties eventually influenced the openness of Tang dynasty through expanded exchanges with its neighboring states. This paper examines the relativity of modern East Asian international relations and diversity based on cases related to marriage alliances of Sui and Tang dynasties. The tribute investiture per emperor per period, order and correlation of amicability, and further research that reviews the marriage alliance and openness of Sui and Tang dynasties as is intended to follow.