The Research On The Relationship About Military Event And The Transformation Of Frontier Of Southwest Yunnan Province In Latest Ming Dynasty

The presence of military forces is one of the prerequisites for aheading frontiers and setting up political districts.When the military power had changed,it will inevitably making impact on the frontiers.During the late Ming Dynasty,the composition of Ming’s military power in Yunnan had changed,border defense activities as well,which made the changes in the territory.The study of this period of history not only helps to strengthen our understanding of the military development of the Ming Dynasty,but also helps to deepen our understanding of the changes in the frontier of Yunnan during the Ming Dynasty.The main objects of academic research on military activities in Ming Dynasty are the nine sides of the Great Wall and the anti-Japanese activities along the southeast coast.There is not much discussion about the changes and influences on the military in Yunnan.For the study of the Ming-Myanmar War,the focus is mostly on the territorial changes and impacts brought by the war.There is not much research on the Ming Dynasty’s strengthening of military deployment and influence in the border areas.Research on the changes in frontier governance in the Ming Dynasty from a military perspective also needs to be developed.In view of this,this article will take the southwestern border of Yunnan in the Ming Dynasty as the main area,and take the changes of military power and frontier defense in Yunnan in the late Ming Dynasty as the breakthrough point.Discuss and study the interaction between the military and the frontier in the late Ming Dynasty.In addition to the introduction and conclusion,this thesis consists of five chapters.First,I`d like to talk about the composition and deployment of military power in Yunnan during the early and middle Ming Dynasty,as well as the pattern of border defense in Yunnan;Then,pay attention to the changes brought by the rise of the Dongyu Dynasty to the security structure of Yunnan.On the basis of the above discussion,we will discuss the changes of the frontier defense of the Ming`s army due to changes in the frontier of the security situation,as well as the interaction between the changes in the military defense line and the frontier of Ming Dynasty.Through the research and discussion of relevant issue,we hope to deepen our understanding of the changes in the southwest frontier and military changes in the Ming Dynasty.On the basis of investigation and research,this paper has formed the following new understandings:First of all,the main task of the military forces deployed in Yunnan at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty was to protect the security of the inner region,not the security of the frontier chieftains.In Yunnan in the Ming Dynasty,the population structure were mainly“Yi”,who governed by chieftain.Only few “Han” governed by Ming`s administration.Even in the inner region,they Ming`s administration were surrounded by those chieftains.These chieftains no matter strong or weak,are often rebelled.Thus,the military activities of the Ming Dynasty in Yunnan were mostly aimed at those local chieftains.Therefore,the Ming Dynasty’s military are focusing on inner region of Yunnan.By establishing guard posts in key cities,the road and communication hub,it provided protection for Ming`s administration at Yunnan,guarded against attacks by native officials and chieftains.The Ming Dynasty had not deployed military forces stationed in the frontiers,and the Ming army was not responsible for security of the chieftain within frontier.In the military conflicts between the frontier chieftains,the Ming Dynasty usually did not directly intervene in military affairs.The defense of Yunnan is divided into the inner part and the border part,which are dealt with separately.The inner part is protected by the Military Force of Ming Dynasty,and the security of the frontier chieftains is their own responsibility.Secondly,the rise of the Toungoo Dynasty of Burma prompted the Ming Dynasty to deploy its troops in the frontier areas and strengthened its control over the frontier areas.In the middle and early Ming Dynasty,Burma was divided,and there was no powerful political force that could threaten the borderlands of Yunnan.It is feasible for the Ming Dynasty to make the frontier chieftains responsible for their own safety.However,when Toungoo Dynasty of Burma had rise,Those frontier chieftains could not against The Toungoo Dynasty alone.The frontier had lost its function as fence of Yunnan.It prompted the Ming Dynasty to deploy military forces to the frontiers,making the Ming army act as a fence of Yunnan.Thirdly,the Ming army’s defense moved forward,but failed to achieve the desired effect.Since the guards system had already fallen into disuse during the Wanli period,the Ming Dynasty could only organize their military forces by recruiting troops and deploy them in the frontiers.Recruiting troops had cost too much to taken by Ming`s government,making their long-term deployment unsustainable.Although in the Ming Dynasty,they hoped to establish a three-dimensional line of defense by setting up local military guards,setting up garrison,and setting up eight gates in the border areas.But from the practical point of view,it can only be unsatisfactory.Due to the decline of the national power of the Ming Dynasty,it was already powerless to deploy defenses in the border areas.Fourthly,in the late Ming Dynasty of Yunnan,although the territory was shrinking inward,the Ming Dynasty was still trying to strengthen its control over the border areas.Due to the expansion of the Toungoo Dynasty,the territory of Yunnan continued to shrink.The shrinking of the territory was not unique to the Wanli period.After the territory reached the maximum during the Yongle period,the territory began to shrink continuously.However,the shrinking of the territory in the late Wanli period led the Ming Dynasty to send troops to the frontier to establish defense.Although the effect of defense is not ideal,to a certain extent,the Ming Dynasty’s control over the border areas has been strengthened,making the relationship between the border areas and the Ming Dynasty closer.