土司制度是我国历史上的封建王朝在某些少数民族地区实行的一种政治制度。它渊源很早,唐代在少数民族地区设置的羁靡州就有土司制度的刍型,但通常认为这种制度始于宋元,而完成于明代,清代因袭沿用。元、明推行土司制度主要在西南各省民族地区,其中又以云南设置的土司、土官最多,职官种类也最为完备。土司制度的内容,主要是暂时不触动各民族固有的生产方式,利用原来的统治机构对当地统治者加封一些不同于内地的职名封号,使之“谨守疆土,修职贡,供征调”(《明文·职官志》)。所封职名有宣慰使司宣慰使(从三品)、宣抚司宣 Chieftain system is a kind of political system practiced by feudal dynasties in some ethnic minority areas in our history. Its origins were very early. In the Tang Dynasty, there was a chieftaination of the Tusi system in the Jizi prefecture, which was set up in the ethnic minority areas. However, this system was generally considered to originate from the Song and Yuan dynasties and was completed in the Ming Dynasty and followed the Qing Dynasty. Yuan and Ming promoted the chieftain system in the ethnic minority areas in the southwestern provinces. Among them, the chieftains set up in Yunnan were the largest ones with the highest number of officials and the most complete categories of officials. The contents of the chieftain system are mainly to temporarily not touch the inherent mode of production of all ethnic groups and to use the original governing body to seal up some titles different from those in the Mainland to the local rulers so that they will “keep their territory and pay tribute for redemption” (“Ming Wen official records”). Enclosed by the name of Xuan comfort Division Xuan comfort (from Mishina), Xuan Fosun declared