A comparative study of the maritime trade supervisorates of Guangzhou and Quanzhou during the Song dynasty = 宋代廣州與泉州市舶司比較研究

Abstract

Guangzhou and Quanzhou are recognised as the most important trading ports of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Both municipalities also housed the Maritime Trade Supervisorates (MTS), the official maritime trade management agents established by the Song. Over the past century, studies abound on the development and functions of the MTS, the contributions of maritime trade, as managed and regulated by the MTS, to the economic growth and social changes of the Song, as well as the rise and fall of Guangzhou and Quanzhou as the best-known rendezvous of international merchants and travellers in East Asia. However, little is known about the dynamics of Guangzhou and Quanzhou within the MTS system, and how they worked with each other to achieve the common goal of generating revenue for the state coffers. This thesis thus attempts to fill these knowledge gaps by comparing and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses in siting and operational efficacy of the MTS offices in Guangzhou and Quanzhou. The analysis reveals a serious flaw in the Song’s maritime policy and the MTS setup by the end of the eleventh century, which had far-reaching consequences for the MTS operations, particularly its office in Quanzhou, during the last century of the Song rule. It also suggested that the prosperity of maritime trade during the Song Dynasty was likely due to the overwhelming demand of foreign markets and merchants, rather than being pushed by robust economic growth, most notably in agriculture, commerce and handicraft production. 廣州及泉州皆獲公認為宋朝（960-1279）最重要的港口，也是宋朝創立的海外貿易官方管理機構──市舶司的駐地。過去一個世紀以來，有關宋代市舶司的研究汗牛充棟，涵蓋其沿革與職能、在市舶司監管之下的海外貿易對宋代經濟與社會的貢獻、以至廣州與泉州作為東亞地區雲集各國舶商之地的盛衰等。 可是，至今有關廣、泉兩州作為宋代市舶司駐地的營運狀況，以及兩者如何攜手合作，達成招徠舶商、以助國用的目標，所知仍屬有限。因此，本論文嘗試採用比較研究的方法，分析及評估廣、泉兩州市舶司在選址及營運成效上的優劣，以補其闕。結果發現宋代市舶司政策及設置上，於公元11世紀末出現一個嚴重的缺陷，對南宋中葉以後的市舶司制度，尤其是泉州市舶司，產生非常深遠的影響。同時，宋代海外貿易之興盛，很可能是源於國外市場及商旅對貿易異常殷切的需求，而不是由宋朝本身蓬勃的經濟發展──尤其是農業、商業及手工業等方面的增長而推動。