The "chieftain system" is an ethnic policy used by the ruling class of the feudal dynasty to solve the problem of ethnic minority areas in southwest China. Its meaning is to keep the system of restraints in check, and it still imitates the "restraint system" of the Tang Dynasty. Politically, it consolidates its rule, economically it maintains the original mode of production, and is content with collecting tribute. Therefore, it is a system that oppresses ethnic minorities both politically and economically. The chieftain system in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region began with the "Ji Si System" in the Tang Dynasty, was formed in the Song Dynasty, flourished in the Ming Dynasty, collapsed in the Qing Dynasty, and ended in the early 20th century, lasting more than a thousand years. (Refer to Huang Xianfan's "General History of the Zhuang Nationality")

The chieftain system was a form of compromise between the central government and the local ruling classes of various ethnic groups in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, who united and struggled with each other. Under the rule of the chieftains, the land and people were hereditary owned by the chieftains. Each chieftain formed a sphere of influence, resulting in a state of division and separatism, which caused hatred and war between and within the ethnic groups.

Guizhou’s transformation from native land to native land began in the Ming Dynasty, and reached its climax in the Yongzheng period of the early Qing Dynasty. There were profound historical reasons why Emperor Yongzheng adopted the suggestions of the governor Ertai and others. This is reflected in: economically, the lord economy under the chieftain system hinders the development of the feudal landlord economy; politically, the chieftains enjoy various privileges, own the army, set up private prisons, fight with each other, and seriously hinder the centralization of power; However, the internal conflicts within the nation caused by the chieftains and chieftains committing evil and enslaving the native people have become increasingly prominent, which is not conducive to the stability of the rule; in terms of transportation, the chieftain area, especially the "land of foreigners", blocks the "opening of the river road to Guizhou and Guangdong" "Connecting the land route from Sichuan to Chu to Yunnan is not conducive to the central dynasty's control and governance of the border areas.

The prelude to the reform of local chieftains during the Yongzheng period was the reform of local chieftains such as Wu Nai and Wu Sa. The focus was on the border areas of Hunan and Guizhou, with Leigong Mountain as the center, and Guangshun, The junction of Dingfan (now Huishui) and Luodian was opened.

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Official name. It was first established in the Yuan Dynasty. It is used to grant titles to leaders of ethnic minority tribes in the northwest and southwest regions. The position of chieftain can be hereditary, but the appointment of an official requires the approval of the court. The chieftains of the Yuan Dynasty had three military military positions: Xuanweisheng, Xuanfushi, and Appeasement envoy. The Ming and Qing dynasties followed the system of chieftains. Since the Ming Dynasty, three civil official positions have been added: Tuzhifu, Tuzhizhou, and Tuzhixian. Chieftains bear certain taxes and services to the court and provide troops according to the court's levy orders; internally they maintain their right to rule as tribal leaders.

During the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, the reform process of changing local chieftains to local officials began, changing hereditary chieftains into official officials appointed and removed by the court. mean. In order to implement the policy of reforming the native land and returning it to the locals, the Qing Dynasty launched many wars against ethnic minorities. However, the chieftain system did not completely disappear until the end of the Qing Dynasty. During the Republic of China, the Ma Bufang armed forces in Ningxia and Qinghai accepted appointments from the Republic of China government, but for others The jurisdiction is still under its own jurisdiction, which is actually no different from the chieftain system of the previous dynasty. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, through the stages of bandit suppression, land reform, and regional ethnic autonomy, the chieftain system was completely abolished.

A system in which the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties granted hereditary official positions to leaders of ethnic minority areas in order to rule the people of that ethnic group. Also refers to a person who is granted such an official position.

"In the ethnic minority areas of western Guangxi, after the uprising of Pinnong Zhigao in the Song Dynasty, Di Qing's subordinates and native chiefs were appointed as native officials, and many tuzhous, counties, and caves were established. These tuzhous, counties, and caves, The social economy, political organization, cultural system and folk customs are all different from those of the prefectures and counties, so they are called chieftains who are in charge of their affairs, or the official office." (Excerpted from Huang Xianfan's "General History of the Zhuang Nationality")