Connotation of Tribute Trade

First, it refers to the profit-making commodity trade organized by the vassal States in the process of tribute because of official participation or authorization.

Definition 2: Tribute trade and maritime ban both involve the diplomatic and foreign trade fields of the Ming Dynasty, but tribute trade refers to the policy of friendly exchanges and trade with overseas countries in the form of tribute, covering the foreign attitude of overseas policies.

Definition 3

In addition, although the trade of Zheng He's fleet was large, it was essentially a government act, which was called "tribute trade" in academic circles. As can be seen from the works of Ma Huan and others mentioned above, there were many kinds of goods exported by China at that time, mainly silk, porcelain and precious metals.