China and such countries were deemed to have formed international relation which was based on hierarchical relation between "soshukoku (suzerain state)" and "hanzokukoku" (or "zokkoku" or "fuzokukoku") (tributary state).
中国とこれらの諸国とは、「宗主国」(SuzerainState)と「藩属国（あるいは「属国」「付庸国」）」(TributaryState)という上下関係を基調とする国際関係を結んだことになる。