264 Boundaries and Beyond
the government ofβicials were far from unanimous among themselves on
matters regarding maritime activities and the majority of local ofβicials
in particular made only half-hearted attempts to enforce the prohibitory
laws that jeopardized their extra income. Both the local scholar-gentry
and the Fujianese who held high ofβices at the Court strongly opposed
strict restrictions on maritime endeavors.
The following discussion explores the social and political complexities
of this situation by studying Ming government policy and the contesting
views on maritime affairs.
Frontier Relations and the Concept of Coastal Defense
(Haifang)
A brief study of the Ming frontier policy from the time at which it was
established will help comprehend the late Ming government’s attitude
toward maritime affairs in general, and the South Fujianese involvement
in seafaring activities in particular.
The best place to begin is to trace many of the policies to the time
of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding Emperor of the dynasty. Soon after his
re-uniβication of China, he decided to follow the preferred traditional
approach of refraining from the unnecessary use of force against foreign
countries since it would not beneβit the state. He decreed:
Those barbarians surrounding China are all located in remote
areas with natural barriers formed by mountains and seas. Even
if we were to occupy them, their limited resources could never
support our administration, and it would be difβicult to assimilate
their people to our rule. If they disturb our border areas recklessly,
they will be punished by natural self-destruction. If they never
cause us any trouble and we send precipitate expeditions against
them, we shall be confronted with evil omens. My descendants
should forever restrain themselves from using the nation’s strength
to undertake military operations without a reason, thereby
causing unnecessary casualties for only temporary military
success. Nevertheless, we shoul d train our army constantly and
be on guard against the Hu barbarians [residing in northeast
China], the Yong [in the west] and those on the northern frontier
[Di], since they are closely connected with China proper and have
waged wars with China for generations. We should never invade
those foreign countries named on the following list: Chaoxian guo
(Korea) ..., Riben guo (Japan) ..., Da liuqiu guo (the Ryukyus) and
Xiao liuqiu guo (Taiwan) ..., Annan guo (Northern Vietnam), Zhenla
guo (Cambodia), Xianluo guo (Siam), Zhancheng guo (Champa),http://www.ebook3000.com