19 Recurrent Themes in Chinese Civilization: “The Role of Emperor” and “Tribute System”

This lecture examines three key aspects of Chinese imperial history: “The Role of Emperor,” “Tribute System,” and “Familialism.” It reveals the emperor’s dual identity of a political chief authority and a pope, and what the duality means to the whole society. It introduces the tribute system and explains why the system could be seen as a fig leaf for actual extortions under specific situations. The lecture also presents a unique Chinese concept of “familialism” which together with monarchy served the two most stable institutions in Chinese history.