关键词： 湘西土家族, 土司制度, 经济形态, 封建领主制经济

Abstract: Tusi system is a special political system that implemented by the feudal dynasties,such as Yuan,Ming and early Qing,in the south national minority areas.Tusi system,as a kind of overtop structure,was adapted to certain social economic foundation.This paper has carried on the analysis on such aspects of Tujia national minority in western Hunan during Tusi period as the social class structure,the class relationship,land occupation situation and so on and gets the conclusion that under the Tusi system socio-economic formation of the Tujia national minority in western Hunan was the economy of feudal suzerain system.And one of the major reasons for the transformation of the economy of feudal suzerain system to the economy of feudal landlord system during late Ming and early Qing dynasties in this area is private owing of land rendered by the development of agriculture.

Key words: Tujia national minority in western Hunan, Tusi system, socio-economiic formation, economy of feudal suzerain system