Maritime Frontiers, Territorial Expansion and Haifang 83
During the Song, while Guangxi was perceived to be a faraway land
located “outside the mountain range” (lingwai) by the borders and
consequently “beyond the inβluence of civilization” (huawai), Hainan
was considered even farther away. So far distant was it that the Qiong
administration was given special powers to command both the military
and civil ofβicials of the four prefectures on the island, allowing it to meet
any local exigencies before consulting the court.^103
The Li people lived in the mountainous region surrounding Mount
Limu that was located in the center of the island. Although the “raw”
(uncivilized) Li (sheng Li), who resided deep in the interior, were not
under the rule of the Chinese authorities, the “civilized” Li (shu Li), who
resided on the outskirts of the coastal Han settlements, farmed, paid
taxes and performed labor service. They were placed under the rule of a
nearby prefectural administration.^104 The shu-Li settlements, dong, were
governed by their own chiefs.
In the Yuan period, General Zhu Bin penetrated deeper into the Li
territory and captured 600 Li settlements.^105 During the long period
lasting from then until the early Ming, attacks on the coastal Han Chinese
settlements by the minority people on the periphery of the coastal
districts occurred sporadically. Such disturbances were often recorded
as Li disturbances (Li luan).
During the Ming Hongwu reign, the raw Li frequently attacked and
plundered the shu Li and Han settlers. Their actions prompted the early
Ming authorities to adopt an active policy to secure the submission of
the raw Li. In 1396, the local Ming authorities selected the more capable
village chiefs of the civilized Li and appointed them sub-district deputy
magistrates (xunjian si). Their task was to pacify the raw Li. This stratagem
led to the surrender of numerous Li people. In 1406, for example, more
than ten thousand raw Li accepted Ming rule. At that time, the civilized Li
were required to pay a tax based on their property, but were exempted
from labor service. The newly-submitted Li were exempted from
performing labor service for three years.^106 Despite such benevolent
measures, the Li disturbances persisted throughout the Ming and the
government launched military campaigns to suppress them. In 1544, a
war between the Ming forces and the Li people led to heavy casualties on
the Ming side, although the Li also suffered a loss of 270 settlements and
- Ibid., 1: 2a, 18a–b.
- Ibid., 2: 7b.
- YMXSJL, 3: 35a–36a
- TXJGLBS, 29: 76a, 77a.