蒙古政經勢力衰微之後，十五世紀的亞洲地區各個民族得以恢復國力，特別是漢族與朝鮮民族得以重建其社會經濟。在亞洲的新秩序當中，中國佔據了舉足輕重的地位。明朝建立初年，新成立的朝貢貿易將中國與其他國家之間的貿易活動，有制度地納入官方的掌握之中。該政策一方面造成中國貿易商之跨國商業活動受到約束，另外則吸引亞洲其他地區的商人不但更活躍地參與官方的朝貢貿易，而且也積極地從事非法的走私貿易。在亞洲地區各國之間貿易往來日漸興盛的同時，科技發展的新突破不只使國際貿易益趨頻繁，而且也使貿易量大增。回教之廣泛流佈於馬來半島、蘇門答臘、爪哇、婆羅洲、甚至及於明朝宮廷之中，對當時亞洲社會所產生之巨大影響則不容忽視。

本文作者以上述的政經等因素嘗試構築十五世紀亞洲高溫施釉陶瓷的歷史背景，並且由此視野來觀察該時期陶業發展的若干重要議題。在進行討論分析當中，作者著重於所謂「黑暗期」的理論，亦即指稱十五世紀陶瓷產業與外銷中呈現「黑暗」或「空白」時期的相關論述。作者以為，該時期的亞洲陶瓷貿易就好比是一種由新興的國際成員所組成的「跨國貿易企業」一般。作者另外指出，除了從事跨國性活動的國際貿易商之外，地方性的陶業中心以及地方商販的興起也格外引人注目，並且文中以其中兩種成員(東南亞地區的華僑與琉球的貿易商)為例進行個案分析。

The political map of 15th century Asia is a turbulent one. The menace of Mongolian power had been removed from most of the continent, allowing the Han-Chinese and Koreans in particular, to reestablish their respective societies and economies. A new Asian world order was coming into being in which China played a key role. The newly introduced Chinese tribute trade policy institutionalized foreign trade with China as an inter-governmental system. The fact that this new policy severely restricted Chinese merchants in their international trade activities, clearly demonstrates the authority of the new Ming regime. Paradoxically, this Ming policy did not only encourage Asian traders to engage more actively in this profitable official tribute trade, but also in illicit private trade. New or improved technologies developed along with new Asian trade relationships, enhancing the volume and intensity of trade. The widespread acceptance of Islam in the Malaysian peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and even at the Chinese court, constituted a major element of social change in the region.

The article discusses high-fired glazed ceramics of 15th century Asia against this background of political, social, technological, and economic changes. In particular the so-called "gap" theory is examined, which surmises the existence of gaps in ceramic production and trade of this period. The authors suggest that Asian ceramic trade in this period be viewed as a multinational enterprise with new international participants. They point out that besides the presence of non-indigenous, multinational traders, a rise in regional ceramic centers with indigenous traders specializing in local trade may Also be detected. This paper focuses its discussion on two such dynamic ethnic groups: Sino-Southeast Asians and Ryukyuans.

南海; 陶瓷生產空白期; 陶瓷外銷空白期; 跨國貿易商; 琉球

South China Sea; ceramic production gap; ceramic export gap; multinational traders; Ryukyu