Han Dynasty Trade and Expansion -- A Study on the Economic Relationship Structure between Han and Hu (Translated Collection of English Works by Yu Yingshi)

Author: Yu Ying-shih, translated by Wu Wen-ling and others
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Focusing on trade and expansion during the Han Dynasty, Yu Ying-shih comprehensively examines the foreign relations between the Chinese and other ethnic groups. Against a broad historical and cultural backdrop, he reevaluates the economic and military challenges faced by the Han Dynasty, ultimately presenting a comprehensive picture of the Han era. Although written in the 1960s, the book offers significant insights into recent historiographical debates, such as the tribute system. Yu's work provides an exceptionally vivid account of the establishment and growth of China's tribute system during the Han Dynasty, grounded in the political and economic realities of the time. Over the long history of the tribute system—from its establishment to its collapse—Yu's analysis stands as an indispensable foundation for evaluating it. As Yang Lien-sheng remarked, "In terms of both breadth and depth, this book is the first comprehensive study of this topic in any language, making a vital contribution to understanding Chinese history."