【摘要】中亚帖木儿朝与明朝之间的贡赐贸易以绢马交易为大宗。除马匹外，帖木儿朝还进贡宝石和珍禽异兽，并因此得到明朝统治者的喜爱，进而得到优厚的赏赐。不过，明朝对奢侈品所需毕竟有限。成化、弘治年间，帖木儿朝所进狮子甚至遭到明臣的非议。另一方面，明朝的丝绸、绢布和瓷器则是帖木儿朝人需要的生活必需品。贡赐贸易是维持帖木儿朝与明朝频繁往来的物质基础。
【关键词】帖木儿朝 明朝 贡赐贸易
Abstract：This article discusses tributes and rewards. The exchange between silk and horses was largely carried out between the two countries. Luxurious goods, as precious stones and rare birds and unusual beasts tributed by the Timurids were welcome by the Ming emperors, but the need was finite. The lion-tribute from the Timurids were even reproached by the Ming’s ministers during Cheng Hua and Hong Zhi periods.
Key words：the Timurids the Ming tributes and rewards
中亚帖木儿王朝（1370—1506年）是明朝与之交往频繁的西域大国，它与明朝之间的贡赐贸易，是两国能够维持长期往来的根本原因。国内学术界对此关注不多，国外如美国学者罗萨比等人虽有所研究，尚欠深入。本文试从两国往来的物品论述两国的贸易关系。
一、绢马贸易
大概明廷向帖木儿朝使臣表达了对马匹的需求，洪武二十二年，满剌哈非思再次来朝时，又贡马205匹，明太祖诏赐白金400两及文绮钞锭，从者俺都儿等八人，白金700两及文绮钞锭。[3]明廷仅白金就花去了1100两，平均每匹马花去五两多，明廷还另有钞锭之赐。
但成祖很快又认为马值太薄。永乐元年四月壬戌，湖广、四川、云南、广西所隶宣慰使杨昇等并西北诸夷各遣人朝贡马及方物。成祖以其远至，且旧所定马直薄，命礼部第马之高下增给之。上马每匹钞千贯，中马八百贯，下马五百贯。[16]