The Influence of Chinese Commeroial Activities on Japan, Korea, and Vietnam Author: Chu yun-ying

Abstract：

Japan, Korea and Vietnam are situated in the neighborhood of China. Being her close neighbors, the three conntries have always basked in Chins's age-old sulture. As has been pointed out by the present author in more than ten articles, Chinese culture has greatly influenced Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures in many respects. The Chinese influence on Japanese, Korlan, and Vietnamese learing, thought, religion custom, agriculture, and arts has already been discussed; the present article is focused on China's commercial activities in her neighboring countries. With this particular end in view, the author has divided the article into five parts. The firest part deals with China's commerce and the subsequent changes in her commercial policy. Based on various data gathered from Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese historical documents, the second, third, and fourth parts make a general survey of Chinese commercial activities in those countries and the influence on their economy. The fifth part, the conclusion, stresses the following points:
1. Chinese merchants' braving danger and hardships during the past years piomoted international trade between China and her neighboring countries, and contributed greatly to the improvement of their economy as well as their people's livelihood.
2. Exported to their neighbors by Chinese merchants, the wonderful products of a far more civilized country made it possible for the wealthy and aristocratic people in those countries to lead a more luxurious life and stimulated the rest of the people to develop their own arts and business.
3. On their business trips to the three countries, Chinese merchants had a good opportunity to get in touch with their people in every walk of life. Not only did they make for mutual understanding but they enhanced goodwill between them.
4. By exporting books, works of art, and other articles of cultural value, Chinese merchants were instrumental in developing culture in their backward neighbors and spreading knowledge and skills there.
5. Although tributes were offered by those countries for goodwill, the friendly act was done, fundamentally, for their own economic profits.

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