Foreign relations of Imperial China

Foreign relations of Imperial China means the ways that people in Imperial China talked to or worked with people from other countries. In the old days, people in different countries in Asia and Europe would send each other gifts and nice words to show they appreciated each other. People in Imperial China had a very special way of saying nice things. They called it the “tribute system”. People in other countries would bring gifts like silk, tea, and silver to the Emperor usually once or twice every year. In return, the Emperor would give them special gifts and sometimes permission to travel or trade in China. People from other countries also learned a lot about Chinese culture and philosophy during these visits. It was a good way for people from different countries to work together and get to know each other better.