土官政治与边防机制:明代前期川西北地区的国家治理

Politics of Chiefdom and Frontier Defense Mechanism:Imperial Governance in Early Ming Northwest Sichuan

从洪武中期到宣德前期,是明朝接触、了解并制定川西北边略政策的重要历史时段。中央与边地军政机构不断协商与规制治边方略,为有明一代川西北的国家治理模式奠定基础。一方面,明廷的边地军管架构逐步成型,行政区划多有调整,卫所制度渐趋成熟,并表现出向省镇营兵制转变的倾向;另一方面,明廷仍仰赖地方土官进行羁縻统治,土官亦发挥能动性,利用中央王朝的制度空间最大化地方利益。土官政治逻辑与边防机制演进,是认识明代前期川西北权力格局动态变化的关键视角。

The period from mid Hongwu to early Xuande was a crucial phase for the Ming Dynasty in terms of engaging with,comprehending,and formulating frontier policies towards northwestern Sichuan.The continuous negotiations between central and border military institutions laid the groundwork for effective governance in northwest Sichuan by the Ming Dynasty.On the one hand,as the Ming's frontier policy gradually took shape and its administrative division in northwest Sichuan underwent constant adjustments,the garrison system matured and exhibited a tendency towards the mercenary system.On the other hand,due to heavy reliance on indigenous leaders for indirect rule,the Ming Court allowed them to maximize local interests by capitalizing on court policies.Understanding the political logic of indigenous officials and tracing the evolution of frontier defense mechanisms are key perspectives for comprehending the geopolitical dynamics of northwest Sichuan during the early Ming Dynasty.