试论明代西南地区土司多民族国家意识的象征

Symbols of Consciousness of Multinational State under Chieftain System in Southwestern China in Ming Dynasty

明代西南少数民族在各自土司等上层人物带领下,程度不同地参与国家事务。在保持各民族自身群体意识的同时,他们的多民族国家意识也表现得较为明显。贡物、从征、尊印可视为象征明代西南少数民族多民族国家意识的具体行为。朝贡和从征既显示出国家对少数民族的管理,也表现出少数民族对国家的忠诚。尊印则体现出少数民族对国家权威的高度认同。

Under the leadership of each of their chieftains, ethnic groups in the southwest in Ming Dynasty participated, to various degrees, in the national affairs. While keeping the consciousness of their own ethnic groups, they also displayed the consciousness of multinational state. Paying tribute, going on military expedition, and showing respect to imperial seal could be considered as the concrete actions symbolizing the consciousness of multinational state, the first two indicating the state's administration of the ethnic groups as well as their loyalty to the state while the third embodying their identity with the national authority.