On the Illusiveness of Identity Positioning of China in the Mandala System

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Published: Jul 31, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17576/sinergi.0301.2023.05
Keywords:
identity construction and state formation Kautilya's Mandala system ancient Chinese state system ancient Southeast Asian order system

Main Article Content

Zhao Qidong
PhD candidate, School of International Studies, University Utara Malaysia, 06010, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia.
Rusdi Omar
Professor and Associate Research Fellow, Research Institute for Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government and Dean, Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
Mas Juliana Mukhtaruddin
Senior Lecturer, School of International Studies, University Utara Malaysia, 06010, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract: This paper examines Emperor Qianlong's identity construction and historical analysis concerning the Mandala System, guided by a case study on social acquisition mechanisms. The author argues that Emperor Qianlong did not recognize or share the identity setting regarding China's role in the Mandala System, a unilateral policy design and understanding of Thailand's monarchs. The rewriting of imperial letters from China led to the misconception that the Chinese emperor internalized the country's role identity. This resulted in Thailand's monarchs following the teachings of Kautylia's Arthasasthra and engaging in political exchanges with China. However, the diplomacy between Thailand and the Ming dynasty during the Imjin War is not a convincing case to prove that the Mandala System influenced Thailand's diplomacy with the Chinese dynasty. The author suggests that theoretical thinking regarding diplomatic strategy can help provide an interpretation framework that integrates the subjectivity of China and Southeast Asian Kingdoms before the early 19th century.


Keywords: identity construction and state formation, Kautilya's Mandala system, ancient Chinese state system, ancient Southeast Asian order system,


DOI: 10.17576/sinergi.0301.2023.05


Article Information: 21 December 2022; Acceptance date: 10 May 2023; Publication Date: 31 July 2023.


Acknowledgement and Declaration: The Authors would like to show their gratitude to SINERGI’s anonymous reviewers and their constructive feedback in improving the quality of the manuscript.


 


Abstrak: Makalah ini mengkaji konstruksi identiti Maharaja Qianlong dan analisis sejarah berkenaan Sistem Mandala, dipandu oleh kajian kes mengenai mekanisme pemerolehan sosial. Penulis berpendapat bahawa Maharaja Qianlong tidak mengiktiraf atau berkongsi tetapan identiti mengenai peranan China dalam Sistem Mandala, reka bentuk dasar unilateral dan pemahaman raja-raja Thailand. Penulisan semula surat empayar dari China membawa kepada salah tanggapan bahawa maharaja China menghayati identiti peranan negara. Ini mengakibatkan raja-raja Thailand mengikuti ajaran Arthasasthra Kautylia dan terlibat dalam pertukaran politik dengan China. Bagaimanapun, diplomasi antara Thailand dan dinasti Ming semasa Perang Imjin bukanlah kes yang meyakinkan untuk membuktikan Sistem Mandala mempengaruhi diplomasi Thailand dengan dinasti China. Para penulis mencadangkan pemikiran teori mengenai strategi diplomatik dapat membantu menyediakan rangka kerja tafsiran yang mengintegrasikan subjektiviti China dan Kerajaan Asia Tenggara sebelum awal abad ke-19. 


Kata Kunci:  konstruksi identiti dan pembentukan negara, sistem Mandala kautilya, order sistem purba China dan Asia Tenggara,


DOI: 10.17576/sinergi.0301.2023.05


Maklumat Artikel: Tarikh penghantaran: 21 Disember 2023; Tarikh penerimaan: 10 Mei 2023; Tarikh Penerbitan: 31 Julai 2023.


Penghargaan dan Pengisytiharan: Para penulis ingin merakamkan rasa terima kasih kepada Perwasit Bebas tanpa nama SINERGI dan maklum balas membina mereka dalam meningkatkan kualiti manuskrip.

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How to Cite
Qidong, Z., Omar, R., & Mukhtaruddin, M. J. (2023). On the Illusiveness of Identity Positioning of China in the Mandala System. SINERGI : Journal of Strategic Studies & International Affairs, 3(1), 56–68. https://doi.org/10.17576/sinergi.0301.2023.05
Issue
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2023): SINERGI: Journal of Strategic Studies & International Affairs
Section
Original Research Article
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