ON THE PORTUGUESE TRADE IN CHINA, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質
The article analyzes the nature of Portuguese trade in China between 1513 and 1520, the early phase of Sino-Portuguese relations, arguing that mercantile activity cannot be understood solely as diplomatic preparation (or as an extension of the episode of ambassador Tomé Pires), nor reduced to a fram...
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| Published in: | Review of Culture |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Published: |
Instituto Cultural de Macau
July 2005
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40015/3798 |
| _version_ | 1877196271112945664 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhang Tingmao |
| author_autocomplete | Zhang Tingmao |
| author_browse | Zhang Tingmao |
| author_facet | Zhang Tingmao Zhang Tingmao |
| author_sort | Zhang Tingmao |
| container_title | Review of Culture |
| container_title_str | Review of Culture |
| container_volume | 15 |
| container_volume_str | 15 |
| description | The article analyzes the nature of Portuguese trade in China between 1513 and 1520, the early phase of Sino-Portuguese relations, arguing that mercantile activity cannot be understood solely as diplomatic preparation (or as an extension of the episode of ambassador Tomé Pires), nor reduced to a framework of unstructured smuggling. The author reviews the bibliography that tends to focus on Tomé Pires and the identification of Tamão, pointing out the absence of a systematic study dedicated to the modalities, motivations, and framework of Portuguese transactions. Methodologically, the research draws mainly on Portuguese sources, cross-referencing them with Chinese documentation when available, to characterize the flows of goods and the conditions of commercial contact.
Based on the account of Jorge Álvares’s expeditions and subsequent missions (1515–1516, 1517–1518, 1519–1520, and 1520–1521), the text demonstrates that the Portuguese traded with partial authorization from local authorities, operating primarily from ports such as Tamão, with restrictions on movement to Canton. The conclusions highlight a trade based on reciprocity and the strategic value of European goods—especially pepper and other spices, as well as products associated with armaments—in exchange for textiles, porcelain, and high-prestige goods, as well as the importance of formal factors such as the deposit of a padrão and the presence of lucrative cargoes. The interruption of this phase is explained by the expulsion after the conflicts of Tunmen (1521) and Xicaowan (1522). |
| first_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:53Z |
| format | Articles |
| genre | Articles |
| genre_facet | Articles |
| hierarchy_browse | Review of Culture{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_id | zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_title | Review of Culture |
| hierarchy_sequence | 0000 |
| hierarchy_top_id | zotero-coll-WX87PJHD |
| hierarchy_top_title | News |
| hierarchytype | Default |
| id | zotero-67JMVHLW |
| institution | zotero_group |
| issn | 1682-1106 |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:53Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-11T02:56:53Z |
| publishDate | July 2005 |
| publishDateRange | 2005 |
| publishDateSort | 2005 |
| publishPlace | Macau |
| publisher | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
| publisherStr | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
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| spelling | ON THE PORTUGUESE TRADE IN CHINA, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質 The article analyzes the nature of Portuguese trade in China between 1513 and 1520, the early phase of Sino-Portuguese relations, arguing that mercantile activity cannot be understood solely as diplomatic preparation (or as an extension of the episode of ambassador Tomé Pires), nor reduced to a framework of unstructured smuggling. The author reviews the bibliography that tends to focus on Tomé Pires and the identification of Tamão, pointing out the absence of a systematic study dedicated to the modalities, motivations, and framework of Portuguese transactions. Methodologically, the research draws mainly on Portuguese sources, cross-referencing them with Chinese documentation when available, to characterize the flows of goods and the conditions of commercial contact. Based on the account of Jorge Álvares’s expeditions and subsequent missions (1515–1516, 1517–1518, 1519–1520, and 1520–1521), the text demonstrates that the Portuguese traded with partial authorization from local authorities, operating primarily from ports such as Tamão, with restrictions on movement to Canton. The conclusions highlight a trade based on reciprocity and the strategic value of European goods—especially pepper and other spices, as well as products associated with armaments—in exchange for textiles, porcelain, and high-prestige goods, as well as the importance of formal factors such as the deposit of a padrão and the presence of lucrative cargoes. The interruption of this phase is explained by the expulsion after the conflicts of Tunmen (1521) and Xicaowan (1522). Instituto Cultural de Macau Macau Review of Culture Articles July 2005 Zhang Tingmao |
| spellingShingle | ON THE PORTUGUESE TRADE IN CHINA, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質 Zhang Tingmao |
| title | ON THE PORTUGUESE TRADE IN CHINA, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質 |
| title_autocomplete | ON THE PORTUGUESE TRADE IN CHINA, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質 |
| title_full | ON THE PORTUGUESE TRADE IN CHINA, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質 |
| title_fullStr | ON THE PORTUGUESE TRADE IN CHINA, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質 |
| title_full_unstemmed | ON THE PORTUGUESE TRADE IN CHINA, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質 |
| title_short | ON THE PORTUGUESE TRADE IN CHINA, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質 |
| title_sort | on the portuguese trade in china, 1513-15201513 - 1520 葡萄牙人在華貿易及其性質 |
| url | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40015/3798 |
| zotero_collection_key | 76L3BRGH |