Maritime ban, also known as "foreign ban", is an isolationist policy aimed at prohibiting people from going to sea privately. It was only in the Ming Dynasty that there was a saying that "rulers could not go to sea". The specific implementation of the sea ban policy varies from policy to policy, namely "prohibition" and "relaxation". It is generally believed that the main purpose of the maritime ban is to eliminate rebels, combat piracy and smuggling, and ensure social stability.
The sea ban policy also restricts foreign businessmen from trading in their own countries. In fact, what is really hit is the foreign trade and fishery of our country. On the contrary, due to the maritime ban, the activities of pirates and smugglers are more rampant, which has a negative impact on the social and economic development of the country and its neighbors.
"Closed door" is reflected in various restrictive policies on overseas trade, the most serious of which is the sea ban, followed by restrictions on trading ports.
The peak of the Shanghai ban in the history of China was in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which not only strengthened this policy, but also lasted for many years. China's maritime ban has also become an opportunity for the development of ceramics industry in Southeast Asia. On the other hand, Ryukyu and other vassal states also benefited a lot from the exclusive trade with China because of the maritime ban. However, on the whole, China only implemented a nearly comprehensive sea ban in the middle and early Ming Dynasty and before the pacification of Taiwan Province Province in the early Qing Dynasty, but the time span was much shorter than that in the period of sea opening or partial sea opening. [ 1]
Chinese name
Maritime trade/exchange with foreign countries is prohibited.
purpose
Destroy rebels, combat piracy and smuggling, maintain social stability and maintain rule.
affect
Overseas trade is declining and social development is slow.
quick
navigate by water/air
The historical evolution policy of the reasons for the sea ban shows the negative impact of the consequences of the sea ban.
Policy introduction
In order to run the copper industry, the Qing court did not help the sea at first. Later, in order to prevent the coastal people from helping the anti-Qing forces (mainly Zheng Ming) through maritime activities, the "moving the border to ban the sea" was implemented, which was more severe than that of the Ming Dynasty. In June of the 12th year of Shunzhi (1655), the coastal provinces were ordered not to sail at sea without authorization, and offenders would be severely punished. In the eighteenth year of Shunzhi (166 1), coastal residents in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Shandong provinces were forcibly moved to 30 to 50 miles respectively, and it was forbidden to set up border defense. In the 22nd year of Kangxi (1683), Taiwan Province Province was pacified, and the Qing court lifted the ban. During 23 to 25 years, four customs offices were established in Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang [1] to manage the foreign trade affairs of dozens of foreign trade ports under their respective jurisdiction. The sea opening in Kangxi period was all-round sea opening. Not only the East and the West, but also the trade with Japan, which has always been banned, is within the scope of opening up, which is much larger than the opening up of local seas during the reign of Qin Long in the Ming Dynasty. However, after only 30 years, the all-round open-sea policy began to shrink. In the face of the increasingly serious "Haikou" activities and the potential threat of western forces in East Asian waters, in the fifty-fifth year of Emperor Kangxi (18), although it was not a comprehensive sea ban, it was undoubtedly a serious blow to China's growing private foreign trade forces. In the fifth year of Yongzheng (1727), after repeated discussions among ministers, Yongzheng agreed to abolish the maritime ban in Southeast Asia, and then reopened four trading ports in Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
During the Qianlong period (1757), due to the outbreak of the flood incident, Qianlong announced that the ports under the jurisdiction of Jiang Customs, Zhejiang Customs and Fujian Customs were no longer open to western ships, and only Guangdong Customs was reserved to allow westerners to trade without this restriction. The export volume of traditional commodities such as silk and tea is strictly restricted, and the overseas trade of China merchant ships is also subject to many prohibitions. This is what people usually call "one-stop trade". Since then, the policy of closing the country to the outside world has become more severe. Until the outbreak of the Opium War, this unreasonable policy has become the focus of contradictions. In the middle of Qing dynasty, the traditional concept of active coastal defense formed in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties was abandoned. It has restrained China's maritime trade and the development of domestic industry and commerce. [2]
On the other hand, from the 24th year of Kangxi (1685) to the 24th year of Qianlong (1757), there were 3 12 European and American merchant ships trading in China in 72 years. During the 80 years from 1758 to 1838, before the Opium War, there were 5 107 merchant ships that arrived in Guangzhou for foreign trade, which was 16 times that of the year when the four ports were opened. In terms of management efficiency, when the four ports were opened, only 1 western merchant ships docked at each port every year on average. When only 1 Guangzhou port is left, an average of 64 western merchant ships call every year, which greatly improves the efficiency and greatly reduces the cost of customs management. [3]
Reasons for maritime ban
The main purpose of the sea ban policy in the early Qing Dynasty was to prevent Zheng from successfully counterattacking. Zheng Ming has long relied on maritime forces to deal with the Qing Dynasty, and cooperated with westerners such as the British East India Company to export sugar and deerskin and import western guns to enhance the combat effectiveness of Zheng Ming's army. In addition, he also asked the British to train artillery and borrow British artillery hands to participate in the war. Zheng Chenggong also sought help from the Tokugawa family in Japan. Therefore, the Qing court strictly ordered to move the border.
In the first year of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty (1662), in order to defend against Zheng Chenggong's attack, Chaozhou ordered a sea ban, and coastal residents moved 50 miles inland. In the third year of Kangxi (1664), it moved five miles (including Anbu, Caitang, Tiepu and Guantang in Chaoan County), and fishing and hunting were banned. In the fifth year of Kangxi (1666), Chenghai County was abandoned and merged into Haiyang County (it was only restored after eight years). In the tenth year of Kangxi (167 1), it was reiterated that ships from Fujian and Guangdong provinces were not allowed to cross the ocean. The sea ban lasted until the Qing government recovered Taiwan Province Province in the 23rd year of Kangxi (1684), allowing the residents of Chenghai and South Australia to return to their original places to engage in farming and foreign trade. The maritime ban brought great disaster to chaozhou people, and the production and trade were seriously damaged. [3]
During the reign of Kangxi, although the Qing government conducted foreign trade, it attached great importance to the activities of foreign merchant ships and was extremely strict with China people's residence in foreign countries. Kangxi ordered local officials to set up castles along the coast, and pointed out that "overseas countries such as the West will suffer after a thousand years, and the country will be in danger for a long time." It can be seen that Kangxi was always wary of western colonialists.
With the development of maritime commerce at that time, the Qing government imposed increasingly strict restrictions on foreign trade. The most outstanding performance of the Qing dynasty's closed door was in the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods.
In the 22nd year of Qianlong (1757), due to the invasion of China by the British East India Company and other colonists, from this year on, only one trade was allowed in Guangzhou, and it was forbidden to go to Xiamen, Ningbo and other places. In addition, the Qing government also formulated many prohibitions (foreign defense regulations) to restrict foreign businessmen. For example, foreign businessmen were not allowed to spend the winter in the provincial capital of Guangdong, were controlled by Chinese businessmen, and were not allowed to enter and leave Guangzhou freely. At the same time, it also strengthened the restrictions on mainland businessmen and established a commercial protection system. This insurance company is designated by the government and has the privilege of foreign trade. All foreigners, ships, goods and taxes are guaranteed by insurance companies.
Increasing taxes is also one of the ways to restrict trade with western countries. The customs duties of the Qing government are divided into two types: ship money and goods tax. In addition to tax reduction in Kangxi, various surtax items are increasing day by day. During the Qianlong period, the Qing dynasty raised the customs duties in Zhejiang and other places to resist foreign businessmen going north. At the same time, the Qing government successively issued various bans prohibiting grain, gold and silver, copper bars and silk gold from going abroad. [3]
The development of history
Maritime Prohibition Order and Border Demolition Order
The Great Qing Law, which was compiled in the third year of Shunzhi (1646), retains the provisions of Daming Law on "going abroad without permission and going to sea illegally". However, the maritime ban policy at that time was not really implemented. For example, in the 15th year of Kangxi (1676), Mu, then the governor of Jiangsu, also said in "Please open the sea and forbid dredging": "I remember the Shunzhi period in 1967, when there was no ban".
However, in order to weaken and eliminate Zheng Chenggong and other anti-Qing forces, in the twelfth year of Shunzhi (1655), Governor Tuntai of Zhejiang and Fujian called on "coastal provinces to ban them from sailing, and offenders will be severely punished." In June of the 13th year of Shunzhi (1656), the Qing court officially issued a "sea ban order", ordering the governors of Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangnan, Shandong and Tianjin to mention the town saying, "Merchant ships are forbidden to go out to sea without permission, and some people trade with thieves all kinds of goods, such as grain, goods, etc .." Local civil and military officials in charge can't interrogate and arrest, and they will all be dismissed and severely punished; The local garbo was very tolerant and secretive, and all of them died without lifting their heads. "However, the five-year maritime ban has not achieved the expected results. In the 18th year of Shunzhi (166 1), the Qing court adopted Huang Wu's "border relocation order", forcing the southeast coastal residents to move 30 to 50 miles inland. The relocation measures had a certain impact on Ming and Zheng. However, the rural areas along the southeast coast were barren and the people were displaced, and then pirates prevailed and people's livelihood was depressed. [2]
Order to open the sea area and exhibition boundary
After Kangxi came to power, some places gradually "opened up territory" and people returned to their hometowns to resume their business. In the seventh year of Kangxi (1668), the Zheng family had retreated to Taiwan Province province, and Guangdong relaxed its maritime ban first. In the eighth year of Kangxi (1669), coastal residents were allowed to cross the border again. At the end of the war to pacify San Francisco, Fujian Governor Fan, Yao Qisheng, Jiangsu Governor Mu, Fujian Governor and Guangdong Governor Li Shizhen went to the countryside one after another, demanding the cancellation of the maritime ban and allowing people to go to sea for trade. In the 15th year of Kangxi (1676), Mu's "Please open the sea and forbid dredging" is the most representative. According to it, "the ships in Shengjing, Zhili and Shandong will listen to their actions, the wasteland in Haizhou Yuntai will be restored, and the land in Xiangshan and Macao will be allowed to be traded". It can be seen that the northern coastal provinces have lifted the ban, but only the four provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong have lifted the ban.
In the 22nd year of Kangxi (1683), Taiwan Province Province was pacified by the Qing Dynasty and officially exhibited. The so-called "exhibition boundary" is to arrange for the coastal residents who moved around the eighteenth year of Shunzhi to return to their homeland. 1 1 month, Emperor Kangxi sent Du Zhen, assistant minister of the official department, and Xizhu, a bachelor of cabinet, to Fujian and Guangdong to take charge of coastal exhibitions. Before leaving, he said: "Resettlement of people is very important. When we find out the source of the people, we will cooperate with the governor to resettle them to ensure that both soldiers and people have a place. " [4]
In the 23rd year of Kangxi (1684), the Qing Dynasty officially opened the sea, allowing people to engage in foreign trade, and set up Guangdong Customs, Fujian Customs, Zhejiang Customs and Jiang Customs as institutions for managing foreign trade and collecting tariffs in "Guangdong Macao (Guangzhou), Fujian Zhangzhou House, Zhejiang Ningbo House and South China Yuntai Mountain". The four customs chiefs of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong lead all the customs ports in their respective provinces, and usually have jurisdiction over dozens to dozens of customs ports.
In the fifty-sixth year of Kangxi (17 17), since the opening of the sea ban, more than 1,000 people went to sea by ship every year, but only 56 of 10 people returned, and many of them stayed in Nanyang. The Qing government was therefore worried that "thousands of people gathered at sea and had to guard against it"; It is believed that Southeast Asian countries have always been "pirates' nests", so Southeast Asian trade is prohibited, that is, "Southeast Asian maritime ban".
After the maritime ban in South Asia, the once prosperous foreign trade declined again. The increasingly depressed coastal economy has caused serious consequences to local residents, so that the big ship built with four or five thousand dollars rotted between the broken port and the barren coast. Poor people who have no life are forced to flee to the sea, or take risks, "or make a mess." To this end, many people demand a ban.
In the fifth year of Yongzheng (1727), that is, ten years after the Nanyang maritime ban, the Qing government reopened the Nanyang maritime ban. However, those who go abroad for trade are restricted to return home within three years, otherwise they are not allowed to return home.
In the same year, the envoys sent directly by the Portuguese king for the first time began to arrive in Beijing. In the past, the Qing Dynasty called Portugal a western country, and this time it was called the Gaelic State of Boldu. They mistakenly thought it was the first time to pay tribute, and the reception was thoughtful.
In the seventh year of Yongzheng, the Dutch East India Company set up a branch in Guangzhou to handle trade affairs.
County system
In the twenty-second year of Qianlong (1757), Qianlong made a southern tour and witnessed an endless stream of foreign merchant ships in Suzhou, which made Qianlong wary of western colonial activities. On the grounds of regulating foreign activities in coastal defense, Qianlong ordered western businessmen to trade only in Guangdong, that is, "although ships coming this year have been handled according to the year before, ships going to Zhejiang next year will be strictly prohibited." ..... This place is a gathering place for non-foreign ships. In the future, you can only be locked in Guangdong, and you are not allowed to go to Ningbo again. If you come again, let the original ship return to Guangzhou and are not allowed to enter Haikou, Zhejiang. Yu ordered the Guangdong customs to pass, and the businessmen were informed. ..... make the Chinese businessmen's pen, and tell it all over. Later, the port was located in Guangdong and was not allowed to go to Zhejiang Province. "[5] This order marks the Qing government's thorough implementation of the closed-door policy. However, the laws and regulations did not restrict Nanyang businessmen, so some western colonists in Nanyang were still allowed to trade with Fujian, Zhejiang and Soviet customs, especially Fujian customs. For example, forty-six years of Qianlong (178 1), forty-eight years (1783), fifty-one years (1786), twelve years of Jiaqing (1807) and fourteen years (1).
In the twenty-four years of Qianlong, influenced by the "flood incident", in order to strengthen the management of foreign trade, the Qing court formulated a special "Regulations on Preventing Foreign Countries", which has five items, so it is also called "Five Things to Prevent Foreign Countries", mainly including: prohibiting foreigners from hiring people to deliver information; Foreign women are prohibited from coming to China; Foreign businessmen in China are prohibited from spending the winter in Guangzhou; It is forbidden to borrow foreign capital and hire servants from China; When foreign businessmen arrive in Guangzhou, they will be inspected by the local administration for industry and commerce.
In the forty-first year of Qianlong reign, the imperial edict said: "Korea, Annan, Ryukyu, Japan, Southeast Asia, the East, Western countries, border and coastal provinces generally have foreign trade, and all generals and governors should make practical preparations with this intention. In the case of negotiation and litigation, we must never be partial to the people to suppress foreigners. "
Hong incident
After Qianlong ascended the throne, he basically followed the policies of his ancestors in foreign trade. /kloc-in the middle of the 0/8th century, the western capitalist countries started the industrial revolution, and their overseas trade expanded day by day. Western businessmen, especially those headed by the British East India Company, have been eager to find opportunities to open the China market. At that time, more and more foreign businessmen came to trade and speculate in four trading ports along the coast of China. At the same time, incidents involving Chinese often occurred in Nanyang, which quickly aroused the vigilance and disgust of the Qing government.
In the fifth year of Qianlong (1740), Dutch colonists slaughtered overseas Chinese in Java, Nanyang, creating a shocking "Red Creek Massacre". The news shocked the whole country. At the same time, foreigners often commit crimes in places where foreigners gather, such as Macao. On the other hand, in order to fill the huge trade deficit with China, British businessmen at that time sent ships to Ningbo and Dinghai in an attempt to buy silk and tea nearby. Coincidentally, Emperor Qianlong was very keen on cruising in the south of the Yangtze River. It is said that when Gan Long visited Suzhou for the second time, he learned from local officials that there are more than 1000 ships sailing in Suzhou Port alone every year, and hundreds of them are sold to foreigners. Gan Long also saw with his own eyes that in the waters around Jiangsu and Zhejiang, an endless stream of foreign merchant ships came to trade every day, and most of them carried weapons. He can't help worrying that Ningbo will become the second Macao. Therefore, after returning to Beijing from a southern tour in 1757, Qianlong categorically promulgated that famous imperial edict, stipulating that foreign businessmen were not allowed to have direct contacts with the government, and only the "Guangzhou Thirteen Lines" handled all matters related to foreign businessmen, thus beginning to implement a closed-door policy of comprehensively preventing foreign countries and isolating China and foreign countries.
Foreign businessmen challenged the customs clearance policy of the Qing dynasty and sued the court by boat north.