中國的瓷器長期以來作為世界尖端製品而廣為人知。中國製造技術突出的地方是使用含有較多玻璃成分的陶土。元、明的青花瓷、明代中期的彩繪瓷器等，是世界各國所需之物。但是，綜觀世界範圍，朝鮮半島於16世紀、日本於17世紀以降，而歐洲則至18世紀製造出相似的瓷器。因此，較長一段時間內，世界上許多國家渴望得到中國的瓷器。特別是在明代，多數朝貢國因期待明朝回賜瓷器而進行朝貢。因為中國瓷器受到極高評價，所以在朝貢國中有將回賜的瓷器轉賣至外國等的行為。16世紀以降，到達中國東南沿海的西歐各國也購買中國瓷器，這些瓷器流失至海外。因此，本論文探討中國的瓷器怎樣被回賜給明朝的朝貢國，以及在明代後期海禁得以緩和後，中國的瓷器以何種方式被出口至海外等相關問題。

Chinese porcelain has long been well-known as the world's most advanced products. The highlight of Chinese porcelain manufacturing technology is the use of clay that contains more glass components. The blue-and-white porcelain of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and the painted porcelain of the mid-Ming Dynasty were all in demand by countries all over the world. However, from a worldwide perspective, it was not until the 16th century that similar porcelains began to be produced in Korean peninsula, which is followed by Japan in the 17th century and Europe in the 18th century. Therefore, for a long time, many countries worldwide were eager to get Chinese porcelain. Especially in the Ming Dynasty, most tributary countries paid tribute in anticipation of the Ming Dynasty rewarding them with porcelain in return. Because Chinese porcelain was highly valued, the rewarded porcelain were resold overseas in the tributary countries. After the 16th century, Western European countries that reached the southeastern coast of China also purchased Chinese porcelain there, which was lost overseas afterwards. This paper explores how Chinese porcelain was rewarded to the tributaries of the Ming Dynasty, and how Chinese porcelain was exported overseas after the sea ban was eased in the late Ming Dynasty.