History of Sino-foreign Relations Research

Author: Lu Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-02-01
Features: The book consists of 29 articles, with only 4 being general in nature. The rest are categorized into five parts, forming five major chapters:
(1) "Silk Road Chapter," comprising six articles. Among them, the discussion on the emergence and formation of the overland and maritime Silk Roads, as well as their changes and transitions during the Tang Dynasty, can be considered relatively innovative.
(2) "Western Regions Chapter," featuring nine articles that explore various issues related to the overland Silk Road, particularly focusing on the study of its peak period during the Tang Dynasty. Notably, the use of Tang poetry to supplement the lack of documentary evidence is expected to provide some inspiration.
(3) "South China Sea Chapter," consisting of four articles that primarily elaborate on the historical relationship between ancient China and Southeast Asia. When combined with the following (4) "Zheng He Chapter" (3 articles), it directly reflects the rise of the maritime Silk Road during the Song and Ming dynasties, marking a new peak of friendly relations between China and Southeast Asia.
(5) "Hainan Chapter." Although Hainan is part of China's mainland, it is undeniable that it has long served as a vital gateway to the southern part of the country and an important hub for maritime trade between the East and West. It has played a significant role in facilitating economic and cultural exchanges between China and the world. Therefore, three previously published articles have been included here for reference.