明代地理学家王士性与西南少数民族

Shixing Wang,a Geographer of Ming Dynasty,and Southwest China’s Ethnic Minorities

明代地理学家王士性对西南少数民族做了详细而又深入的考察,他的地理学名著《广志绎》记录了西南地区的交通、经济、文化、风俗、政治,是研究西南少数民族历史的重要资料。王士性目睹了土司制度的弊端,意识到土司制度已经严重地阻碍了社会进步。在这一背景下,他认为'改土归流'是大势所趋。王士性的'夷汉错居'观全面地概括了晚明时期所形成的西南民族大杂居、小聚居的格局。王士性《广志绎》是民族地理学独特而又珍贵的资料。

Shixing Wang,a geographer of Ming Dynasty,did a thorough and detailed investigation on the ethnic minorities in Southwest China. His geographical masterpiece,Guangzhiyi( Geographical Notes),covering Southwest China’s transportation,economy,culture,customs,and politics,is an important document for the historical study of that area’s ethnic minorities. During his drifting official life in Southwest China, Shixing Wang witnessed the drawbacks of tusi( chieftain) system,and was conscious about its severe hindrance to the social development. In such context,he believed that it was a general trend to reform the chieftain system to an official one. His viewpoint on 'mixed settlements for minorities and Han people' gave a comprehensive overview of the late Ming Dynasty’s settlement pattern formation in Southwest China,i. e.,vast multinational settlements with a few compact communities. In conclusion,Shixing Wang’s Guangzhiyi is a unique and valuable document for ethno-geography.