Sino-Burmese overland trade under dual-overlordship system in Qing dynasty with special focus on tea trade in Sipsong Panna

Abstract

Overland trade had played a significant role in the interactions among China, Southeast Asia and South Asia for centuries. Though maritime trading raised in fifteenth century overwhelmingly attracts more attention from scholars, overland route was far from inconsiderable. Continental commercial intercourse essentially affected the demography, politics and also modernization process of Southern China and mainland Southeast Asia to a large range. During 17th to early 20th century, represented by several Shan states, Sino-Burmese frontier trade reached another peak. Enormous commodities carried by caravans shuttled on Tai leaders’ domains. By tributing to both China and Myanmar courts, Tai leaders received recognition from both sides, which helped them won unique position in cross-border trading. In this thesis, combining historical materials from China, British early exploders’ records and also local chronicle, author tried to elaborate how unusual local administrative system in this region led to Shan States’ distinguished commercial position in Sino-Burmese trade, also to explore the role of Tai leaders in local business activities.

Differ from previous works, taking the tea trade as an interesting example, author as an indigenous people from Shan state Sipsong Panna, hold neither Sinocentric nor Eurocentric perspectives to analyze the development and evolution of trading in this region. Revealed by author’s studies, Dual-overlordship system adopted in these frontier Shan states brought this region an interesting economic ecology, which made it a welcomed “middle ground” for merchants. Along with the business journey of tea, we can learn how trade was conducted under Dual-overlordship system, from the ethnic planter to local highest ruler Chaofa, then Han or Muslim merchants, as well as Chinese and Burmese officials. Commodities come far from China and India like metal and spice were transported by traditional caravans or river transport, then re-distributed traded here; tea, cotton and other local merchandise were sent out by the same way. Culture and technology followed commerce met and merged here.