In the late Qing Dynasty, because of the Qing Dynasty's closed country, China slowly began to lag behind other countries and went downhill. In fact, before that, China's national strength in the early and middle periods of the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty was still very strong.
In film and television dramas, we can see that during the Ming and Qing dynasties, When China, which was strong and powerful, often had vassal states to pay tribute. Emperor Gao happily received them, accepted their tribute, and then gave back more things.
So what is a vassal state? Which vassal states did the Qing Dynasty have? Which country was the last vassal state? Why was it still paying tribute 70 years ago? Let's go one by one.
Since the Beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, China has begun to have vassal states. The so-called vassal state is nominally sovereign, but in terms of economy and other aspects, it also depends on other countries, pay tribute to other countries, and other countries provide him with protection.
From the beginning of Liu Bang, there was the title of the vassal state, which at that time was one dynasty and two systems, that is, to divide some kingdoms; and the vassal state was a system set up for some frontier peoples who surrendered, according to the Book of Han and the Benji of Emperor Wu:
"In the autumn of the second year of the Yuan Dynasty (121 BC), the Xiongnu King Kun evil killed King Xiu Tu and brought together more than 40,000 of his people to surrender, placing five subordinate states under his punishment."
This means that at that time, the Xiongnu Kun Evil King came and brought more than 40,000 people, so he established five vassal states.
During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, there were a total of 19 vassal states. The Qing Dynasty provided protection to the vassal states, which paid tribute to the Qing Dynasty. At that time, the Qing Dynasty was strong, and some small countries were willing to rely on the Qing Dynasty and become their vassal states, and when these countries encountered foreign invasion or difficulties, the Qing Dynasty provided assistance to the vassal states.
Let's take a look at the vassal states of China at that time:
Korea: Since the Western Han Dynasty, Korea has been a vassal state of China, and North Korea has paid four fixed tributes to our country: He Dong Solstice, He Zhengshuo, He Shengjie, and Na Nian Coin, and usually comes to exchange from time to time.
Ryukyu: Okinawa, Japan, was a vassal state of Our country since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, with close contacts and a history of more than 500 years. Ryukyu not only paid tribute to China every year, but china also provided him with protection and canonization of his king.
Vietnam: Vietnam was the territory of China from the Western Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, and was established as a state in the five later dynasties. During the Ming Dynasty, it became a vassal state of Our country. During the Qing Dynasty, Vietnam became a French colony.
There are also Burma, Sulu, Nanzhao, Afghanistan, Nepal, Kokand and other countries, all of which were once vassal states of China.
The last vassal state of our country, the country that was still paying tribute 70 years ago, is called Kanjuti.
Kanjuti was a loyal vassal state of our country, located in the southwest of the Pamir, and became a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty in the mid-to-late 19th century, while in the late Qing Dynasty, Kanjuti became a British colony and is now part of Pakistan.
Kanjuti stopped paying tribute to our country after the founding of New China. However, Kanjuti said that they will always support China unconditionally and forever, and will always be a good friend of China.
Pakistan and our relationship is very iron, Kanjuti is also our good friend, in the future, the development and cooperation between our country and Pakistan is very broad, I believe that the friendship between Pakistan and our country, including the land of Kanjuti, will be eternal!