論明代中期“中國海商”的國際地位

On the International Status of "Chinese Maritime Merchants" in the Middle Period of the Ming Dynasty

Abstract

“中國海商”是指明代中后期以中國人為主體的，在中國東南沿海進行亦商亦盜式的走私活動的武裝集團，亦即 歷史上的“倭寇”。本文以資本、購銷渠道、交易市場等商業活動中不可或缺的因素為依據，結合相關史料，重新考察“中國 海商”的商業活動，結果發現以許棟、王直為代表的中國海盜集團沒有商業資本，沒有穩定的購銷渠道，沒有交易基地，缺 乏獨立經營的必要條件，在國際貿易中處于從屬地位，沒有獲得與葡日商人平等對話的身份。

Chinese sea merchants refers to the armed groups that are mainly Chinese and engaged in business and robber activities in southeastern coast of China in the middle and later period of the Ming Dynasty. They are also known as the Japanese pirates in history. This paper reexamines the business activities of "Chinese maritime merchants" based on factors such as capital, buying and selling channels, trading market and related historical data. It is found that the Chinese pirate group, represented by Xu Dong and Wang Zhi, had a subordinate position in international trade and not been granted equal dialogue with Portuguese businessmen due to the lack of commercial capital, stable buying and selling channels, trading bases and necessary conditions for independent operation.