清代改土归流前,湘西民族区域政治格局表现为土司政治下的“以土治土”、“以土制苗”;康熙年间对湘西苗疆生界的开辟,使得土司的地位和作用发生变化,促进了湘西改土归流的顺利进行;改土归流后,湘西形成了“土苗分治”的新格局,具有一定的进步性同时也存在明显的历史局限。 Before the reform of the Qing Dynasty, the political structure of the ethnic regions in western Hunan showed the following aspects: the “rule of soil and soil” under the rule of the chieftain and the rule of “ Changed its status and function, and promoted the succession of reforming the civilians in western Hunan Province. After the reform, the western Hunan formed a new pattern of ”division and management of soil and seedlings", with certain progress and obvious history Limitations.