Jimi system
Encyclopedia
The Jimi system or Jimifuzhou (羁縻府州) was a self-rule administrative and political organization system used in China
between the 7th century and 10th century. It originated in the Tang Dynasty
, by the 650s it had reached to its peak and began to decline by the 740s. It was subsequently used in the Song
, Mongol Yuan
, Ming
and Qing
dynasties, known as the Tusi system (土司制) until around 1726, when a new civil order under the Qing government was established. It should not to be confused with the tributary system. The term Jimi was first seen in the annotation of Shiji quoted by Sima Zhen
from a book of Eastern Han era, which implied to a man directing a horse or ox by the use of rein.
s established for foreign ruler or chief that were either militarily subdued, self-subdued and naturalized. They received their duty from central authority while keeping their original status, and pass on their duty to heirs. They were to provide annual tribute, following the foreign policy and superintend by the central authority. In terms of foreign policy, they would collaborate with the officials sent by the central authority in administration, participate in military affairs of central authority's interest, and obey the assignation made by the central authority. The system was first introduced by commander Li Daliang between August 23 and September 25, 630.
It mainly consisted of three levels, the command area (都督府), prefecture (州) and county (县), known collectively as Jimifuzhou or the loose control administrative units, they were not commonly confused with Zhengzhou (正州) or the regular administrative units. In additions, they were also two short-lived loose control Protectorate
(都护府) established in the former Western Turkic Khaganate
at around the Tarbagatai Mountains
and Lake Balkhash
in 658, the only two loose control protectorate ever established. In some cases, moderate amount of loose control counties were also established under the jurisdiction of regular prefecture at the border of Tang proper. The loose control administrative units, specifically the command area and prefecture were established shortly after a region, state or tribe was subdued and formed as a political division within the extent of a separated regular protectorate.
They were established in the area of today's northern Hebei
, northern Shaanxi
, Gansu
, Ningxia
, Inner Mongolia
, Outer Mongolia, Siberia, Sogdiana and Afghanistan to the north and west, Hunan
and Guangxi
to the south, western Sichuan
, Guizhou
and Yunnan
to the southwest, where they co-existed with the regular prefecture. And also parts of the Inner and Central Asia during the early Tang empire. Until the year 755, they were approximately 1,000 or around 856 loose control prefectures established within the former khaganate and state, about 2.6 times of the regular prefecture.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
between the 7th century and 10th century. It originated in the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, by the 650s it had reached to its peak and began to decline by the 740s. It was subsequently used in the Song
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
, Mongol Yuan
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
, Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
and Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
dynasties, known as the Tusi system (土司制) until around 1726, when a new civil order under the Qing government was established. It should not to be confused with the tributary system. The term Jimi was first seen in the annotation of Shiji quoted by Sima Zhen
Sima Zhen
Sima Zhen , courtesy name Zizheng , was a Chinese historian born in what is now Jiaozuo, Henan during the Tang Dynasty.Sima Zhen was one of the most important commentators on the Shiji...
from a book of Eastern Han era, which implied to a man directing a horse or ox by the use of rein.
Characteristics
The system was a model of Chinese administrative unitHistory of the political divisions of China
The history of the administrative divisions of China is quite complex. Across history, what is called 'China' has taken many shapes, and many political organizations...
s established for foreign ruler or chief that were either militarily subdued, self-subdued and naturalized. They received their duty from central authority while keeping their original status, and pass on their duty to heirs. They were to provide annual tribute, following the foreign policy and superintend by the central authority. In terms of foreign policy, they would collaborate with the officials sent by the central authority in administration, participate in military affairs of central authority's interest, and obey the assignation made by the central authority. The system was first introduced by commander Li Daliang between August 23 and September 25, 630.
It mainly consisted of three levels, the command area (都督府), prefecture (州) and county (县), known collectively as Jimifuzhou or the loose control administrative units, they were not commonly confused with Zhengzhou (正州) or the regular administrative units. In additions, they were also two short-lived loose control Protectorate
Ancient China's Protectorate System
-3. Dongyi Protectorate :Dongyi Protectorate and its precedent, Dongyi military area-3. Dongyi Protectorate (东夷都护府) (648A.D):Dongyi Protectorate and its precedent, Dongyi military area-3. Dongyi Protectorate (东夷都护府) (648A.D):Dongyi Protectorate and its precedent, Dongyi military area(东夷校尉府，was in...
(都护府) established in the former Western Turkic Khaganate
Western Turkic Khaganate
The Western Turkic Khaganate was formed as a result of the internecine wars in the beginning of the 7th century after the Göktürk Khaganate had splintered into two politiesEastern and Western.The Western Turks initially sought friendly relations with the Byzantine Empire in order to expand their...
at around the Tarbagatai Mountains
Tarbagatai Mountains
Tarbagatai Mountains is a range of mountains located in the north-western parts of Xinjiang, China and East Kazakhstan....
and Lake Balkhash
Lake Balkhash
Lake Balkhash is one of the largest lakes in Asia and 12th largest continental lake in the world. It is located in southeastern Kazakhstan, in Central Asia, and belongs to an endorheic basin shared by Kazakhstan and China, with a small part in Kyrgyzstan. The basin drains into the lake via seven...
in 658, the only two loose control protectorate ever established. In some cases, moderate amount of loose control counties were also established under the jurisdiction of regular prefecture at the border of Tang proper. The loose control administrative units, specifically the command area and prefecture were established shortly after a region, state or tribe was subdued and formed as a political division within the extent of a separated regular protectorate.
They were established in the area of today's northern Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
, northern Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
, Ningxia
Ningxia
Ningxia, formerly transliterated as Ningsia, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Located in Northwest China, on the Loess Plateau, the Yellow River flows through this vast area of land. The Great Wall of China runs along its northeastern boundary...
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, Outer Mongolia, Siberia, Sogdiana and Afghanistan to the north and west, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
and Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
to the south, western Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
, Guizhou
Guizhou
' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
and Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
to the southwest, where they co-existed with the regular prefecture. And also parts of the Inner and Central Asia during the early Tang empire. Until the year 755, they were approximately 1,000 or around 856 loose control prefectures established within the former khaganate and state, about 2.6 times of the regular prefecture.