The Tusi Sites (Chinese: 土司遗址; pinyin: Tǔsī Yízhǐ) are three ancient locations in China that were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 3, 2015. This makes them China’s 48th World Heritage Site. These sites are found in the mountainous regions of Southwest China and show the unique tusi system of government that lasted from the 13th to the 20th centuries.
Background
The tusi were leaders of tribes who passed their positions down through their families. They were chosen by the Chinese emperors' government during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties to help rule areas in south-central and southwest China that had different ethnic groups. This system allowed some ethnic groups to have some control over their own affairs. The tusi system was used for about 1,000 years.
Description
The World Heritage site includes three separate locations that together show the history of the Tusi system:
- Laosicheng was the capital of the Peng Tusi from 1135 to 1724. It is the largest and best-preserved of the ancient Tusi cities. The Peng Tusi ruled over an area mainly inhabited by the Tujia people and held a high rank in the Tusi system, managing a large territory.
- The Hailongtun Fortress was built during the Song dynasty in 1257. It was a fortress of the Chiefdom of Bozhou before it was surrendered in 1601. Like the Peng Tusi in Laosicheng, the Chiefdom of Bozhou held a high rank in the Tusi system and ruled over a large area where the Gelao and Miao people lived.
- Tangya was the capital of the Qin Tusi, which ruled over 600 square kilometers for four centuries. It was built in 1355 and abandoned in 1735. Unlike the other two sites, Tangya is smaller, showing that the Qin Tusi had less importance compared to the rulers at the other two locations.
World Heritage Site
On July 3, 2015, the three Tusi sites were added to the World Cultural Heritage List during the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in Bonn, Germany. The committee stated that the Tusi system helped to manage the country's government while letting ethnic minorities keep their traditions and lifestyle.