Because the Qing dynasty explained the condition as "it is an independent country but a subject state at the same time" to Western countries, in historical science, the term "zokkoku (subject state) jishu (independence or autonomy)" will be used to express the condition.
この状態を清朝は「属国であるが自主でもある」と西欧諸国に説明したため、歴史学では「属国自主」という表現を用いる。