Abstract: The Tusi-granting officials are the general term for the Tusi rulers, and they can be divided into two categories, the Tusi self-signed officials and the officially appointed Tusi officials under the great Tusi. The self-signed officials are subject to the name of the Tusi and do not enjoy the official title of the central dynasty, while the officially appointed officials under the great Tusi are responsible to the great Tusi and are at his disposal. In the event of a conflict between Tusi and the central dynasty, the Tusi officials would become their pawns against the central government, leading to a disorderly administration of the goverance of the central government in the Tusi region. The Ming and Qing dynasties were able to transform the identity of the Tusi into the state identity of the dynasty by educating their officials in Confucianism, strengthening the selection role of their officials, and reshuffling them into the state, the study of which is therefore of great significance in deepening the construction of a sense of Chinese community in the historical period.

Key words: Tusi officials, national identity, self-designated officials, officially appointed Tusi officials