论“土司学”的独特性

任何一门专业研究领域，都有它的独特性。舍此，便不能称“学”。土司学的形成，不仅是土司研究长期发展的产物，更在于它有独特的学术内涵。这一独特的学术内涵源于独特的土司制度史。自元以来，土司制度就是西南地区重要的地方行政管理制度，它对西南诸省的治乱兴衰，起着举足轻重的作用。因此，研究西南各省之历史，土司制度的研究是无可替代的。土司制度的独特性表现是代表了一种区域社会管理的新模式；土司作为世袭的地方官，其承袭、朝贡、征调等规定，也与流官完全不同。特别是作为边疆地区的管理制度，土司制度与明代东北的卫所制，清代蒙古的盟旗制、新疆的伯克制也是差异明显的。而现存众多的土司遗址、土司文化遗产更集中表现了土司制度、土司文化的独特性。可以说，没有独特性的土司制度，就没有土司学的独特性。

On the Uniqueness of the Study of Tusi

Every specialized research field is characterized by its uniqueness.Without it,it could not be called a study.The formation of the study of Tusi is not only due to its long research on Tusi,but also its unique academic connotation,which is originated from the unique history of Tusi System.Since the Yuan Dynasty (1206—1368),the Tusi system has been an important local administrative system in southwestern China,playing an irreplaceable role in local governance,making it impossible to research the history in southwestern China without it.The uniqueness of Tusi system represents a new model of regional social governance.The regulations of inheritance,tribute payment and requisition of a Tusi,as a local official,are different from those of an official sent by the central government who is not inheritable.As an administrative system in the frontier regions,Tusi system is different from other systems of frontier regions,such as those in northeastern China in the Ming dynasty (1368—1644),and in Mongolia and Xinjiang in the Qing dynasty (1316—1912).Many Tusi sites and Tusi cultural heritages have shown the unique features of Tusi system and Tusi culture.It could be said that there would be no the uniqueness of the study of Tusi without the unique Tusi system.