论“水头”在明代西北边防体系中的地位与作用

On the Position and Function of“Shuitou”in the Northwest Border Defense System of the Ming Dynasty

“水头”是明代西北以边墙为主体的边防体系的重要组成部分。控扼水头是明代边墙修筑的首要原则,争夺水头是明蒙军事斗争的重要目标。水头所在区域是明代西北边墙防御体系的延伸和扩大。水头的兴废表明在人地关系的作用下明代西北边界是有变化的。

Shuitou is an important component of the border defense system in the northwest of the Ming Dynasty,with the main body being the side walls.Controlling shuitou is the primary principle in the construction of the Ming Dynasty's side walls,and competing for the shuitou is an important goal of the military struggle between the Ming Dynasty and Mongolia.The area where shuitou located in is an extension and expansion of the defense system of the northwest wall in the Ming Dynasty.The rise and fall of shuitou indicates that the northwest border area of the Ming Dynasty underwent changes with the influence of the relation between human and land.