近半个世纪以来的土司制度研究综述

The Summary of the Chieftain System since Nearly Half a Century

学术界对土司制度的研究发端于20世纪初,迄今已形成自成一体的研究方法和体系,其研究成果亦相当丰富,主要集中在以下几方面:1.对土司和土司制度的概念、形成时间的界定及其相关内容的研究;2.对土司制度的历史地位、作用的研究;3.对不同区域土司制度的渊源、流变、特点等方面的研究;4.对不同民族的土司制度的研究;5.对改土归流的原因、性质、意义等问题的研究;6.对重要人物及重要土司的研究。

Academic study on the chieftain system began in the early 20th century. So far, a self- contained research method and sys- tem has formed and a wealth of research results emerged, which are reflected in the following aspects： 1. studies about defining the concept of Chinese chieftain and the chieftain system, its formation time and its relative questions; 2. studies on historical status and role of the chieftain system; 3. studies on the origin, evolution and features of the chieftain system in different regions ; 4. studies on chieftain system of different nationalities ; 5 studies on the causes, properties and significance of the bureaucratization of native chief- tain; 6 studies on important people and important native chieftain.