A Preliminary Study of the Emergence and Formation of the Gentry Class in Yunnan in the Ming Dynasty

The greatest transformation of the social structure in Yunnan in the Ming dynasty was the emergence and formation of the intellectual gentry class,which changed the original social structure formed mainly by the tribal chieftains and members and made it similar to the interior of China.Its causes were the teaching of Confucianism,the popular imperial civil examination and a large number of migrants.Those with such education and experience changed their original roles and formed the new independent class and played a positive role in the social development of Yunnan because of their better qualities.They were also the motive force for development in the minority frontier region of southwest China.