TheJimi system (Chinese:羈縻制) orJimifuzhou (Chinese:羈縻府州) was an autonomous administrative and political organization system used in China between the 7th century and 10th century. It should not be confused with theChinese tributary system.[2] The term "Jimi" was first seen in the annotation ofShiji quoted bySima Zhen from a book of theEastern Han dynasty, which implied to a man directing a horse or ox by the use of rein.[3] Jimi administrative divisions were used primarily during theTang dynasty from the 650s until the 740s.[4] It was subsequently used in theSong,Yuan,Ming, andQing dynasties under other names such as theTusi system (Chinese:土司制) until around 1726, when a new civil order under the Qing government was established.[5]
The system was a model of Chinese administrative units established for foreign rulers or chiefs that were either militarily subdued or self-subdued and naturalized. They received their duty from the central authority while keeping their original status, and passed on their duty to heirs.[6] They were to provide annual tribute, following the foreign policy of the central authority and under its supervision.[5] In foreign policy, they would collaborate with the officials sent by the central authority in administration, participate in military affairs guided by the central authority's interest, and obey the assignations made by the central authority.[7] The system was first introduced by commanderLi Daliang between August 23 and September 25, 630.[8]
It mainly consisted of three levels: the command area (Chinese:都督府),prefecture (Chinese:州) andcounty (Chinese:縣). Known collectively as Jimifuzhou or theloose-control administrative units, they were not commonly confused with Zhengzhou (Chinese:正州) or theregular administrative units.[9] In additions, there were also two loose-control protectorates (duhufu 都護府) established in the formerWestern Turkic Khaganate around theTarbagatai Mountains andLake Balkhash in 658, the only loose-control protectorates ever established.[10][11] In some cases, a moderate number[clarification needed] of loose-control counties were also established under the jurisdiction of a regular prefecture at the border of Tang proper.[9] 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.[12]
They were established in the areas of today's northernHebei, northernShaanxi,Gansu,Ningxia,Inner Mongolia, Outer Mongolia, Siberia, Sogdiana and Afghanistan to the north and west,Hunan andGuangxi to the south, westernSichuan,Guizhou andYunnan to the southwest, where they co-existed with the regular prefecture, and also parts of Inner and Central Asia during the early Tang empire.[13] Until 755, there were approximately 1,000 or around 856[clarification needed] loose-control prefectures established within the former khaganate and state, about 2.6 times the regular prefecture.[5][14]
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)