Facts About Tusi Sites To Learn More About Ancient China

Did you know that China is home to some of the oldest civilizations in the world?

The country has a rich history that stretches back thousands of years. One of the ancient civilizations of China comes from the mountainous areas of southwest China and was ruled by what was known as the 'Tusi'.

Who exactly were the Tusi? Appointed by the central government of China to let the ethnic tribal minorities continue their way of life without much interference, this system soon spread across the mountain tribes of southwest China.

So, how are these sites important to history? Read on to find out more!

Geography

The Tusi Sites are located in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. The largest site is the Hailongtun site in Sichuan Province, which covers an area of ​​about 19 sq mi (50 sq km).

In China, there are more than 100 Tusi Sites, most of which are located in mountainous areas. The climate of these areas is mild and the terrain is complex. Most of the Tusi Sites are located on high mountains or hills, while some are built on flat land.

The Tusi Sites have a long history. The earliest one was built in the early Western Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago.

The latest one was built in the late Ming Dynasty about 400 years ago. The Tusi system was a form of local government set up by the imperial court to rule ethnic minorities in border areas. Under the Tusi system, a Tusi ruler was appointed by the emperor to govern a certain area and exercise autonomy in internal affairs.

The Tusi Sites are an important part of Chinese culture. They reflect the history and culture of the Tusi system and have high historical, scientific, and cultural value.

In 1961, the State Council listed the Hailongtun site in Sichuan Province as a key national cultural relic protection unit. In 2015, UNESCO included the three Tusi Sites at Laosicheng, Tangya, and Hailongtun Fortress in China on the World Heritage List.

The Tusi Sites are not only an important part of China's history and culture but also reflect the diversity of China's ethnic minorities. They are an important window into understanding the social and economic life of the ethnic minorities in border areas.

History And Cultural Significance

The Tusi Sites are a testament to the once-powerful mountain tribes of China, found in the southwest reaches of the country. The Chinese Government appointed local leaders to take control of the administration of the tribes, which is how the hereditary Tusi system of governance came to be.

This system of tribal leadership lasted from the Yuan Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.

The Tusi system of governance was a way of keeping the mountainous people in check in accordance with the administration of the rest of the country while letting the people retain their local customs and lifestyles.

These tribes were considered to be ethnic minorities, so appointing local leaders ensured that not much government interference took place, while still including them in the governance of the country.

The main sites of the Hailongtun Fortress, Tangya, and Laosicheng are the most well preserved of the tribal cities under the Tusi system of governance, which lasted from the 13th century to the 20th century.

The Hailongtun Fortress and Laosicheng Tusi Domain are some of the most rewarding archaeological sites in the country today and were considered to be the dwellings of the highest-ranking officials in the system.

Specifically, a Tusi referred to a tribal leader. The title of tribal leader was passed down from generation to generation in the Tangya tribal domain, with all holders of the title bearing the surname 'Qin'.

The legacy was carried over a period of 460 years, with 18 generations handing down the power to each other. The system was abolished during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), with the tribal domains under this Tusi rule being converted into counties of China. The fortresses were abandoned and remain so today.

Lower-ranking people of the tribal domains mostly lived among the Memorial Archway, where remains of boundary walls, drainage systems, tombs, and an administration area show evidence of a thriving civilization. Their culture seems to have been inspired greatly by China, with added elements of their own, such as the Tuija community.

Protection And Management

The Tusi Sites have been declared under the Law on the Protection for Cultural Relics 1982 as State Priority Protected Cultural Heritage Sites by the government of China.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) is in charge of managing the three main sites and for their upkeep as a protected area. Representatives of the SACH are present in the Hubei, Hunan, and Guizhou Provinces, where the main properties are located.

The Cultural Heritage Bureau of Hunan Province oversees the training of management and administration as well as conducts research projects for the welfare of the Tusi Sites.

Management and conservation plans have already been put in place for the next 10 years, dating back from 2010. This includes guidelines on tourism, presentation, and promotion, as well as measures to be taken in case of any crisis or natural disaster.

The sites and structures are especially vulnerable to natural erosion by the elements as well as heavy rainfall, and because of pressure from excessive tourism.

Other Miscellaneous Facts

The Tujia ethnic minority groups are still present in the Laosicheng area, though they do not inhabit the Tusi sites.

'Tusi' literally translates to headmen or chieftain.

The Tusi system of governance covered the Tujia, Miao, and Gelao groups.

The Tangya Tusi city ruins are even larger than Beijing's Forbidden City, giving testament to how widespread the tribal domains under Tusi rule once were. To put it in perspective, the Forbidden City (the largest palace complex in China) is 0.27 sq mi (0.72 sq km) big.

An ornate archway called the Memorial Archway still stands in the Tusi Sites, as well as intricately carved statues and a burial ground.

The proposal for declaration of the sites as a World Heritage Site originally included the Rongmei Tusi Site, however, in the end, only three were chosen for the title.

The Tusi system was formally abolished in 1953 when the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Region was put in place by the People's Republic of China.

FAQs

Who are the Tusi?

The Tusi were local tribe heads who were appointed to oversee the governance of the ancient Chinese civilizations of the mountainous areas of southwest China and were appointed by the central government.

Where are Tusi Sites located?

The three major Tusi sites are Laosicheng, Tangya, and the Hailongtun Fortress, which are located in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi in southwest China.

How old are these Tusi Sites?

The Tusi system was put in place during the 13th century and lasted until the 20th century. The Tusi Sites were built around the time of the inception of this system and expanded over the years.

What is the significance of Tusi Sites?

Tusi Sites were once a thriving community, where tribes of both low and high status lived following their cultural traditions. It showed how the ethnic minorities were able to govern themselves, while still remaining a part of the larger united domain of governance that was the country of China.

When and why were the Tusi Sites declared as a World Heritage Site?

The three Tusi Sites; Laosicheng, Tangya, and the Hailongtun Fortress, were designated as World Heritage Sites by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO on July 3, 2015.