Jimi system

The Jimi system (Chinese: 羈縻制) or Jimifuzhou (Chinese: 羈縻府州) was an autonomous administrative and political organization system used in China between the 7th century and 10th century. It should not be confused with the Chinese tributary system. The term "Jimi" was first seen in the annotation of Shiji quoted by Sima Zhen from a book of the Eastern Han dynasty, which implied to a man directing a horse or ox by the use of rein. Jimi administrative divisions were used primarily during the Tang dynasty from the 650s until the 740s. It was subsequently used in the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties under other names such as the Tusi system (Chinese: 土司制) until around 1726, when a new civil order under the Qing government was established.