Papers by Zoudan Ma
Journal Asiatique, 2024
Between 1618 and 1620, significant quantities of grain were transported from Shandong to Liaodong... more Between 1618 and 1620, significant quantities of grain were transported from Shandong to Liaodong across the Bohai Sea. This maritime transport was part of the wartime logistics during the Ming-Qing Wars, intended to supply the Ming troops in the northeast frontier. Its scale grew rapidly, with shipping volumes increasing from 13,000 shi in 1618 to 600,000 shi in 1620, and costs rising from 7,000 taels to 600,000 taels. Without any stimulus or input from the central government, a few capable officials in Shandong resorted to diverting tax revenues meant for the central government. This approach made it possible to achieve successful grain deliveries, but also exacerbated the long-standing fiscal tug-of-war between the central and local governments during the Ming dynasty. In contrast, under similar conditions, the Liaodong officials, who were responsible for receiving and transshipping the incoming grain, generally underperformed compared to their counterparts in Shandong. In the end, much of the grain shipped across the sea never reached its intended destination, rendering the initial success of maritime transport fruitless. The 1618-1620 maritime transport highlights the intricate vertical and lateral relations within the Ming bureaucracy, the persistent fiscal deficits that contributed to the dynasty's downfall, and alludes to the capability of the Ming state. Résumé Entre 1618 et 1620, d'importantes quantités de céréales furent transportées du Shandong au Liaodong à travers la mer de Bohai. Ce transport maritime faisait partie de la logistique de guerre lors des guerres Ming-Qing, destiné à ravitailler les troupes Ming à la frontière nord-est. Son ampleur a augmenté rapidement, avec des volumes d'expédition passant de 13 000 shi en 104383_JA_2024-1_05_Ma.indd 69 104383_JA_2024-1_05_Ma.indd 69
TRAMES, 2023
This paper examines the history of crossing the Sino-Chosŏn borders in various contexts. The evol... more This paper examines the history of crossing the Sino-Chosŏn borders in various contexts. The evolution of border crossing can be traced from its origins as a political mission that was part of the diplomatic ritual to its later development as an economic circuit where individuals vied for profits, and finally to its status as a public program that carried significant weight in high-level politics. Throughout its history, border crossing was characterized by its dual nature, encompassing both ritual and mundane, exotic and domestic, national and international elements. It was emblematic of the ongoing interactions between China/Chinese and Korea/Koreans, and the flows of people and goods between them. These individuals and items were re-identified and re-categorized following their crossing of the borders, and the processes of identification and categorization shed light on the political dynamics of both countries.
Journal of Asian History, 2023
In the mid-fifteenth century, the garrison system, the only form of government in Ming Liaodong, ... more In the mid-fifteenth century, the garrison system, the only form of government in Ming Liaodong, began to shift its focus from narrowly defined military functions to civilian administration, overseeing the population and land with the primary goal of extracting resources from society. This article explores how the garrison system shaped the social behaviors of military households, which constituted the majority of Liaodong's population. Through three case studies respectively covering land tax payment, horse rearing, and conflict resolution through litigation, it reveals that the social actors involved devised and implemented diverse strategies to navigate their interactions with the state. These strategies, characterized by recognition of the state's legitimacy and a beggar-thy-neighbor mentality, raise questions about the Ming state's role in fostering exploitative behaviors among its subjects.
Book Reviews by Zoudan Ma
Chinese Studies in History, 2024
Thesis Chapters by Zoudan Ma
In 1621, with Manchu armies occupying Ming China's (1368-1644) northeastern territory, a Ming mil... more In 1621, with Manchu armies occupying Ming China's (1368-1644) northeastern territory, a Ming military officer named Mao Wenlong 毛文龍 (1576-1629) and his followers left for an island off the northwestern coast of the Korean peninsula. They soon occupied the nearby islets, filled these locales with people fleeing from Manchu rule, and recruited some of them into military. In 1622, the Ming state officially recognized this military organization and named it Dongjiang 東江. This organization played a strategic role in the Ming military strategy against the Manchus, who later established the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Its location close to Chosŏn Korea (1392-1897) dragged Chosŏn into the conflict between great powers. Its existence posed a threat to the Manchus' rear. In a nutshell, Dongjiang became a lynchpin for the following two decades of Northeast Asian geopolitics. This dissertation examines Dongjiang in the context of Northeast Asian geopolitics. It argues that the interactions among the Ming dynasty, the Manchus, and Chosŏn Korea gave rise to Dongjiang, nurtured its development, and eventually caused its collapse. Dongjiang was politically subordinated to the Ming court, which granted strategic importance to Dongjiang and provided corresponding political and material support. Dongjiang gradually increased its clout, but never converted itself into a sustained state-building enterprise. It remained a loosely organized military authority based on resource-deficient islands, which compelled it to seek resources from the littorals. This economic dependency paved the way for the souring relationships with all three land-based states. Dongjiang failed to live up to Ming expectations of being a functional force against the Manchus. Its continued existence overburdened Chosŏn and stood in the way of Manchu conquest and incurred Manchu attack in 1637. In 1638, at the behest of the Ming court, all the personnel in Dongjiang moved to mainland China, marking the iv organization's end. This dissertation reveals the multilayered connections between Dongjiang and the surrounding states. These connections show that Dongjiang formed one integral part of a much larger conflict-the Ming-Qing conflict-that involved three land-based powers in Northeast Asia, namely Ming, Chosŏn, and the Manchus.
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Papers by Zoudan Ma
Book Reviews by Zoudan Ma
Thesis Chapters by Zoudan Ma