清代苗疆泛指中國南方非漢族群的廣大分布區域。湖南苗疆在民國時期被劃入新的行政體系,成為邊政體系中湘西的一部分。原為行政地名的湘西逐漸與當時的苗族產生緊密聯系,被外界賦予獨特的文化意涵。從清代湖南苗疆到民國的湘西行政區劃,整體發展脈絡印證了司科特(James C.Scott)的論述:國家行政治理的可識別性會導致社會與環境的重塑。民國時期各類能動者的論述,型構出湘西邊地、邊民意象,延續了苗疆的邊緣性。

Miao borderland roughly refers to the vast residential area of non-Han Chinese ethnic groups in southern China in the Qing dynasty.During the Republican period,Miao borderland in Hunan Province was included into Xiangxi Political District,a new administrative division,and became a part of the border administration system.Xiangxi,the name of the new administrative division,has been connected gradually with the Miao and given a unique cultural implication from the outsiders since the Republican period.From the Hunan Miao borderland to Xiangxi,the overall development of the administrative divisions of Hunan Province confirms James C.Scott’s argument that the legibility of statecraft causes the remodel of society and environment.During the Republican period,various agents’discourses constructed the frontier of Xiangxi,the image of remote people,continuing Miao ethnic group frontier.