Research Of Mongmit Chieftain And Western Yunnan Borderland Chang In Ming Dynasty

The situation in the outer areas of Yunnan Province,as the western borderland of Ming Dynasty,changed dramatically with the establishment and abolishment of the Chieftain System.After the 15th year in Hongwu Period,especially after Yongle Period,Ming government established a relatively complete chieftain system,which brought the most part of Myanmar and the north part of Thailand and Laos under china’s governance.Entering Jiajing Period,the chieftain system becoming collapsed with the conflicts among different chieftains and the rise of Burma Toungoo Dynasty,which led to Ming’s mass loss of territory,and even endangered the inland of Yunnan.Thus,it was the chieftain system which made the expanding or shrinking of Ming’s southwest boundary that differs from the "landscape" of the northern borderland.Apparently,it is not only a vital component of the chieftain system,but also a breakthrough point to study the development and historical rules of southwest borderland,to study the development of the chieftains,the institutional management system,the relationship between Ming government and chieftains,and the interests demand and the relationships among different chieftains.Mongmit Chieftain,the object of this case study,was appointed by Ming government as county-level officer and later promoted to prefecture-level commander,and finally subdued by Burma Toungoo Dynasty in the 18th year of Wanli Period.The rise and fall of Mongmit chieftains,reflected the complex relations among the neighboring chieftains.Mongmit formed a special relationship with Ming Dynasty by the gems mine.To some degree,it was the conflicts between Mongmit and Burma chieftains triggered the collapse of borderland chieftains system in Jiajing and Wanli Period.This dissertation includes four parts:The first part is mainly about the basic situation of Western Yunnan’s border area during the period when Mongmit was afflicted by Luchuan and Mubang.At the beginning time of Ming’s ruling Western Yunnan,Luchuan Issue being settled,Ming government established the borderland chieftain system to realize its governance and ensure the stability of Western Yunnan.The second part is mainly about the situation of Western Yunnan after Mongmit separated from Mubang.Led by Nanghannong and his mother,by virtue of gems exploitation,Mongmit chieftain was recognized by the central government,and was appointed as county-level officer,which belongs to Yunnan provincial government.It was a significant administrative adjustment in Western Yunnan,resulting new imbalance among borderland powers.And this case became a turning point that the situation changed from peace to unrest.The third part is mainly about the disputes and vendettas between Mongmit Chieftains with other borderland Chieftains.In Hongzhi Period,Mongmit Chieftain and other Chieftains such as Mubang and Mengyang launched massive vendettas war in Westernern Yunnan.By means of military,shortly Ming government settled the disputes,and conflicts took place again during Zhengde Period to the early Jiajing Period.Burma Chieftains was attacked and destroyed by the joint forces of Mengyang and Mubang.Ming dynasty continued purchasing Mongmit gems regardless of the disputes among Chieftains,which led to the persistent unrest in Western Yunnan border area.The fourth part is mainly about the development of Mongmit under the conflict of Ming and Burma and the process of the massive shrinking of Western Yunnan borderland.Mongmit swung from one side to the other between Ming and Burma,which eventually was possessed by Burma.Ming government changed its tactics from offending to the defending,and built eight forts to fight against the enemy.Ming’s mining Mongmit gem wells triggered the invasion of Ava Kingdom,which led to the mass loss of territory beyond eight forts and Western Yunnan border shrunk to Eight Forts District in Tengyue and Sanxuan where Ming and Burma started long time military confrontation.