土司统治制度是我国历代封建中央王朝在无力进行直接统治的西南少数民族地区,通过让地方首领世袭自治以统治地方的一种政治制度。在推动西南各民族社会经济发展和形成统一的中华民族国家起过重要的作用。随着时间的推移,这种世袭专制自治制度的落后性逐步暴露出来,最后崩溃消亡 The chieftain’s rule system is a political system in the southwest ethnic minority areas in China where dynastic feudal central dynasties were ruled unable to conduct direct rule by letting the local chiefs hereditary autonomy rule the place. In promoting the social and economic development of all ethnic groups in Southwest China and the formation of a unified Chinese nation has played an important role. With the passage of time, the backwardness of this system of hereditary autocratic autonomy gradually exposed and finally collapsed