Chiefdom of Yongning


Chiefdom of Yongning was a Mosuo autonomous Tusi chiefdom during Ming and Qing dynasty. The chiefdom located at the convergence of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet.
According to legend, the ancestor of Yongning chieftains was from Tibet. He arrived at Yongning in 24 AD. Yongning was a part of Nanzhao and later a part of the Dali Kingdom. Mongolian invaded Dali in 1253. He Zi, the chieftain of Yongning, surrendered to Mongol Empire. Yongning was ruled by Mongols.
Yongning swore allegiance to Ming dynasty since 1371. Chieftain Budu Geji went to China to have an audience with Hongwu Emperor in 1381, from then on, Yongning joined the Chinese Tusi System. Since 1406, the hereditary chieftains received the official position "Magistrate of Yongning" from Chinese emperor.
A Ju was the first chieftain who used the Chinese surname "A". Joseph Rock stated that the surname was given by Chinese emperor. On one occasion the chieftain came to have an audience with Chinese emperor. The chieftain did not understand Chinese. When Chinese emperor spoke to him, he replied "ah", so was given the surname "A".
According to The Ancient Nakhi Kingdom of Southwest China by Joseph Rock, Yongning used to be great power. However, in 1648, Muli was given to a lama and established the Chiefdom of Muli; later, in 1710, Yongning was divided into several chiefdoms under Kangxi Emperor's order.
In 1917, Chiefdom of Langqu was abolished, its territory merged into Yongning. Since then, Yongning changed its name to Ninglang. Yongning Chiefdom was abolished by Communist Party of China in 1956.

List of chieftains of Yongning