Studies On The Barbaric Ethnic Groups Problem In Southern Dynasties

This dissertation focuses on the problem of the barbaric ethnic groups in Southern Dynasties. There are two research perspectives in this dissertation. The first one is the evolution of the barbaric ethnic groups and their society, and the second one is the development of the policy that Southern Dynasties apply to deal with the barbaric ethnic groups. In order to grasp the relationship between the problem of the barbaric ethnic groups and the policy in Southern Dynasties, the dissertation investigate the military affairs between the barbaric ethnic groups and Southern Dynasties, the managing institutions and the Northern and the Southern Dynasties lassoing the barbaric tribes, etc.There are many military affairs between the Southern Dynasties and the barbaric ethnic groups. Some of the military affaires are originated by the imperial courts, and some are originated by local governments. At the same time, the barbaric ethnic groups loot the people and crush the bureaucracies. These ethnic struggles reach climax in Liu Song Dynasty. Many reasons cause these struggles. The important one is the ethnic conflicts that are caused by the ethnic groups and the Hans who live by the Mian river. The ethnic oppression caused by the bureaucracies is also a reason. The ethnic groups also rebel for freedom. The ethnic problem goes badly in the Qi and Liang Dynasty. Compared with that in Liu Song Dynasty, the intensity of military conflicts reduces. The Southern Dynasties' military suppression on the barbaric ethnic groups, which is unavoidable in history, is very violent and cruel. To some extent, these punitive expeditions propel the feudal process of the ethnic groups externally.To tackle the frequent ethnic problem, the imperial courts in the Southern Dynasties take a series of military, administrative measures to strengthen the control of the barbaric ethnic groups. Except for eight military institutions, the imperial courts also set many special administrative systems which are called left eparchies and left counties in the areas where the barbaric ethnic groups inhabit. These measures accelerate the process of registered permanent residence in these areas. Once, left eparchies and left counties exist widely in these areas. But, left eparchies and left counties vanish gradually from the Liang Dynasty, which symbols the feudal system goes further in these areas. The setting of left eparchies and left counties is of great significance in the governance of the ancient barbaric ethnic groups in south China.The imperial courts in the Qin and Han Dynasties appointed some chieftains as the heads of counties, even the chief executives in the areas where the barbaric ethnic groups inhabit. This institution is followed in the Southern Dynasties. While theNorthern Wei Dynasty is approaching the boundary of the Southern Dynasties day by day, the imperial courts of the Southern and the Northern Dynasties begin to lasso the barbaric ethnic groups who live between them. I study two powerful chiefs, Huan Dan and Tian Yizong, as cases to represent the conflict and convergence among the Southern Dynasties, the Northern Dynasties and the barbaric ethnic groups. In order to set the barbaric ethnic groups to govern the barbaric ethnic groups, to harass and defend their enemy and to compete for the control of the buffering area between them, the imperial courts of the Southern and Northern Dynasties lasso the chieftains with ranks and titles. Because of the barbaric ethnic groups' geopolitical predominance, the chieftains waver between the Southern and Northern Dynasties, which make them enlarge their influence and maintain their independent or semi-independent status.After making a general survey of the ethnic problem in the Southern Dynasties, I find the policy to deal with the barbaric ethnic groups in the Song, Qi and Liang Dynasty grows ripe step by step. In a long run, peaceful convergence caused by joint inhabitation is the mainstream in the relationship between Hans and the barbaric ethnic groups. In a short run, military conquest also propel...