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(詳細はstates of the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. These patterns constituted a rudimentary system of interstate or international law based on the model of feudalism established under the Western Zhou. The norms of interstate relations during the Spring and Autumn period was one of the earliest systems of interstate relations and international law in the world. It was of importance in the early cultural and political development of China, allowing greater ease in maintaining relations, and facilitating the flow of trade and information. There was a growing body of customary international law which developed as contacts and commerce increased, a number of treaties were signed, and appeal was frequently made to rules set up within the leagues of states. A great many of the canons of interstate law concerned diplomacy among the states. Interstate relations originated in the feudal system of the Western Zhou, whereby leaders of the states were granted hierarchical titles from the King of Zhou, known as the Son of Heaven. Within a few years after the beginning of the Spring and Autumn period, these ranks lost their practical significance. Diplomacy came to be dictated by the security interests of the states rather than by ceremony. ==Conduct of diplomacy== Ancient sources such as the ''Zuo Zhuan'' and ''Chunqiu'' record the various diplomatic activities under such terms as ''chao'' (朝), a court visit paid by one ruler to another; ''hui'' (會), meetings of officials or nobles of different states; ''pin'' (聘), missions of friendly inquiries sent by the rule of one state to another; ''shi'' (使), emissaries sent from one state to another; ''shou'' (狩), hunting parties attended by representatives of different states. In the early years of the Spring and Autumn period, the rulers of the various states were the most important personages in the conduct of external affairs. They soon came to rely on their ''xingren'' (行人) or messengers to carry on most of the preliminary work in any matters of importance. These ''xingren'' were usually officials of fairly high rank within the state who carried out these commissions on a temporary basis. There were also the ambassadors, ''shi'' (使), who carried out more and more of the ceremonial duties of the ruler outside his state. Up until the first half of the Spring and Autumn period, however, the rulers themselves usually had to be present at the signing of any agreements which committed their states to any action. Reflecting the growing importance of external affairs, ''xiang'' (相) or chancellors, began taking a more active role in diplomacy. An indication of the growing power of the ''xiang'' was the fact that the chancellors of several states were able to repudiate a covenant which had been signed in 506 BC by the rulers of their various states. The culmination of this trend was reached later in the Warring States period, when the establishment of an external policy had become almost the exclusive concern of the chancellors. With the exception of the states which from time to time assumed the role of leaders, the states in general dealt with each other on a footing of equality. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Interstate relations during the Spring and Autumn period」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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