南蠻校尉府創立於西晉初年,是中國中原王朝以大型軍府統治蠻人的首例。其前身來自於兩漢的持節領護官所率領之軍府,這與魏晉以後普遍以開軍府管理地方的作法相同。此後直到東晉南朝,以蠻府配合郡縣制度管理蠻人就成為諸王朝的主流方式。曹魏以來,地方軍事的最高指揮官是都督,隨著西晉偉年長江中游爆發多起民亂,荊州都督多兼荊州刺史、南蠻校尉逐漸成為慣例後,南蠻校尉處理蠻人事務的角色日漸顯著。東晉政府在南蠻校尉府之外,還逐漸設立許多小型的護軍府,此種蠻府多謂郡太守兼領,品第或規模都比校尉府要次一等。因蠻府有一定的軍事實力,遂為掌握軍權的士族所利用,不只處理蠻人事務,也成為政治鬥爭的重要工具。淝水戰後,隨著中央皇權提升,皇帝採行 削弱荊州方鎮的政策,並干預蠻府人選任用。同時,襄陽重新成為南方政權的前線重鎮,因此設立新的寧蠻校尉府;因防範政敵與蠻人合流,護軍府亦以複數型態大量分綾於豫州一帶。在蠻府成為主流的同時,兩晉地方行政制度中完全不怨在特殊政區或準政區,僅以郡縣統治蠻人。這種統治上完全沒有折衷的方式,皆說明東晉政權對蠻人控制力的退縮,也說明治理蠻人的特殊性。

The Jin dynasties established a great number of regional military institution to govern Man peoples who resided in the Yangtze River Basin. These regional settlements included the larger Xiaowei fu 校尉 府 and the smaller Hujun fu 護軍府; both were called Manfu 蠻府 during the period in question. Moreover, the Jin dynasties abolished most regional government systems, and maintained the Junxian 郡縣 systemonly. Chinese central government thus dominated the Man peoples through dual application of the Manfu and Junxian system. This political manipulation provides an insight into the unique relationship between the Chinese state and the Man peoples. Furthermore, the remarkable number of garrisons in the Manfu is significant. The Jin court dispatched these garrisons to conquer the Man who even fought northern enemies later. Entering the Eastern Jin, emperors and local nobilities showed increased attempt to control the Manfu. This political situation reflected a transition of regality and the Chinese state's diminishing political control over the Man.

晉朝；蠻府；蠻人；郡縣制度

Man peoples; Manfu; Jin Dynasties; Junxian System