The Strategic Conquest of the Cloudy Highlands

When the Ming Dynasty rose to power in the 14th century, the rugged terrains of Yunnan and Guizhou remained beyond firm imperial control. These regions, historically governed through loose tributary systems under the Tang and Song dynasties, were dominated by semi-independent kingdoms like Nanzhao and Dali. The Yuan Dynasty’s lingering influence, particularly under the Mongol prince Basalawarmi in Yunnan, posed a direct challenge to the fledgling Ming state.

In 1381, the Hongwu Emperor launched a decisive campaign, dispatching generals Fu Youde, Lan Yu, and Mu Ying to subdue the southwest. Unlike previous dynasties, Ming strategists employed a multi-pronged invasion: one force advanced from Hunan into Guizhou, while another secured the Sichuan-Yunnan corridor. The pivotal Battle of Qujing shattered Yuan resistance, allowing Ming troops to capture Dali—avenging the Tang Dynasty’s disastrous 9th-century defeat at the same site.

Administrative Revolution: From Tribal Fiefdoms to Provinces

The Ming introduced unprecedented administrative reforms. In 1382, Yunnan became a full-fledged province with the “Three Departments” system (civil, judicial, and military bureaus). Guizhou followed in 1413 after the dismantling of the rebellious Sizhou and Sinan chieftaincies. This marked China’s first successful “gaitu guiliu” (改土归流)—replacing hereditary tribal rulers with appointed officials.

Key to this transformation was the Ming’s military-agricultural colonies (卫所). Over 200,000 soldier-families were relocated to Guizhou alone, cultivating 933,900 mu (≈62,260 hectares) of land by 1390. In Yunnan, the Mu family (沐氏) governed for 12 generations, blending Han governance with local customs. Their policies included:
– Mandating Confucian education for chieftains’ heirs
– Constructing 23 fortified post roads linking Yunnan to Burma
– Establishing salt-for-grain trade systems to sustain garrisons

Shexiang Furen: A Bridge Between Cultures

The legendary Shexiang Furen (奢香夫人) of the Yi people epitomized Ming-local collaboration. After her husband’s death in 1381, she quelled anti-Ming sentiments following a wrongful flogging by Ming officers. Her pilgrimage to Nanjing persuaded the emperor to support her road-building projects, including the “Nine Longchang Post Roads” connecting Guizhou to Sichuan and Yunnan.

Her legacy endured through:
– Founding Guizhou’s first Confucian school (1392)
– Sending her son An De to study at Nanjing’s Imperial Academy
– Facilitating Han-Yi trade hubs like Bijie and Anshun

The Blossoming of a Multicultural Frontier

By the 16th century, Ming policies had catalyzed profound societal changes:
– Economic: Migrants introduced advanced farming, doubling Yunnan’s arable land to 1.3 million mu
– Cultural: The 1508 establishment of Guizhou’s provincial examinations validated its scholarly integration
– Demographic: Intermarriage created hybrid communities like the “Tunbao” (屯堡) people

Wang Yangming’s exile to Longchang (1508) further enriched the region’s intellectual landscape, as his “Unity of Knowledge and Action” philosophy spread among Yi elites.

Echoes in Modern China

The Ming blueprint still resonates:
– Today’s Yunnan-Guizhou railway network follows ancient post roads
– The “gaitu guiliu” model informed 20th-century autonomous region policies
– Shexiang’s story inspired the hit song Shexiang Furen (2009), celebrating ethnic unity

As the lyrics proclaim: “The moon shines on Xiangshui Beach, a hundred miles of azaleas never fade.” Six centuries later, the Ming’s vision of an integrated southwest continues to bloom.

Reference: Ming Shilu, Guizhou Provincial Gazetteer (1526), Yunnan Military Records