The chieftain system was an important system of dynastic state governance in the southwest region during the traditional period.Through the specific examination of the so-called"irrational usurpation"of the Rongmei chieftain,this study emphasizes the following three points:first,the implementation of the chieftain system didn't eliminate the tradition of"self-proclaimed headman"in Southwest China,but rather,it coexisted with the system and presented the prominent subjectivity of native headman;secondly,the continuation of the"self-proclaimed headman"tradition within the chieftain system was a concept shared by different groups of people at that time as an integral part of the flexible,diverse and inclusive territorial management system established in the process of dynastic state governance;thirdly,we shouldn't be shackled by the modern concept of nation-state which we take for granted,view"self-proclaimed headman"in the chieftain system as a resistance to national governance and social integration.As a matter of fact,they adopted a set of system and mechanism imitated the system of the mainland prefectures and counties to"tame"and integrate their native people in their territory before the central dynasties,laying a solid foundation for the implementation of prefecture-county governance by the state dynasty in the era of"bureaucratization of native officers".
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