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==History==
==History==
The Burmese kingdom of Pagan ruled most of what is today also Burmese territory, until it was conquered by the [[Mongol Empire]] in the 1280s. Though Burma engaged in [[tribute|tributary]] relations with China throughout most of the medieval to early modern periods, the period from the 1280s until the 1330s seems to have been the only time when Burmese kings themselves recognized this as a tributary relationship; however, this is all according to Chinese sources. During the period, from 1289 to 1339, Burma sent more than twenty tributary missions to Beijing, and received a number of missions from China in return, including two investiture missions.
The Burmese kingdom of Pagan ruled most of what is today also Burmese territory, until it was conquered by the [[Mongol Empire]] in the 1280s. Though Burma engaged in [[tribute|tributary]] relations with China throughout most of the medieval to early modern periods, the period from the 1280s until the 1330s seems to have been the only time when Burmese kings themselves recognized this as a tributary relationship; however, this is all according to Chinese sources. During the period, from 1289 to 1339, Burma sent more than twenty tributary missions to Beijing, and received a number of missions from China in return, including two [[investiture]] missions.
Burmese formal communications with the Chinese court were written in Burmese, and were translated into Chinese by Beijing's own Translation Bureau. As a result, the Burmese and Chinese archives reveal rather different accounts of the relationship, accounts which have not yet been reconciled by scholars. While Chinese sources often indicate that the Burmese court observed all the proper obeisances, for example the king kowtowing while receiving an official golden royal seal in [[1792]], the Burmese sources give no such indication.
Burmese formal communications with the Chinese court were written in Burmese, and were translated into Chinese by Beijing's own Translation Bureau. As a result, the Burmese and Chinese archives reveal rather different accounts of the relationship, accounts which have not yet been reconciled by scholars. While Chinese sources often indicate that the Burmese court observed all the proper obeisances, for example the king kowtowing while receiving an official golden royal seal in [[1792]], the Burmese sources give no such indication.
The Qing closed the border with Burma at this time, until [[1787]], when a group of [[Yunnan province|Yunnan]] merchants, desperate to reopen their trade relationships, sent a number of representatives, pretending to be formal Qing envoys, to reopen relations, and the Burmese agreed. Some ten or twenty missions were then sent from Burma to China over the remainder of the 18th-19th centuries.
The Qing closed the border with Burma at this time, until [[1787]], when a group of [[Yunnan province|Yunnan]] merchants, desperate to reopen their trade relationships, sent a number of representatives, pretending to be formal Qing envoys, to reopen relations, and the Burmese agreed. Some ten or twenty missions were then sent from Burma to China over the remainder of the 18th-19th centuries.
During World War II, Burma was one of the many Southeast Asian countries to fall under Japanese control.
The British conquered the city of Mandalay in November [[1885]], and deposed the last Burmese king, marking the beginning of British colonial rule of Burma. China complained that Burma had been a tributary, and that China was compelled to intervene, citing Chinese records of tributary status. The British countered with Burmese documents which give no such impression, but in the end agreed in an [[1886]] treaty to allow the Burmese people to continue to send their once-in-a-decade missions of "friendship." This promise was never followed-through, however, due to border disputes and other disagreements with China.<ref name=reid19>Reid, 18-19.</ref>
During World War II, Burma was one of the many Southeast Asian countries to fall under Japanese control. Following its independence after the war, Burma pursued a friendly relationship with the Communist People's Republic of China, in order to avoid its massive neighbor being an enemy.<ref name=reid19/>
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