本文考察《南齊書‧蠻傳》，試圖說明該篇蠻人的寫作焦點，以及在撰寫蠻人與蕭齊政權互動關係時，如何呈現蠻人歷史意象等方面的問題。作者蕭子顯僅以時間先後順序串起本篇，不將蠻人分類，不追溯蠻人起源。不過仍可注意若干特色：一、蠻人與蕭齊政權互動關係的時代因素，即北魏的軍事活動與蠻人互為奧援，故文中常出現「蠻虜」一詞。二、荊州蠻是此篇主要描述的對象。究其原因，可能與蕭齊至蕭梁時代，齊、梁政權勢力進入此地有關。三、蕭齊政權透過拜官封爵的方式，極力攏絡蠻酋，然蕭子顯對此作法的態度相當曖昧。四、雖不將蠻人分類，但蕭子顯仍意識到蠻人內部的複雜性，也刻畫蠻人的風俗，以區別蠻漢外，還以此彰顯蠻人殘暴的天性，並將此作為說明蠻人長年反抗華夏政權的根本原因。

This study centers on the “ Account of the Southern Barbarians”5 (“Man zhuan” 蠻傳）in the 讯g/ (#洲 g/ Ww) of Xiao Zixian 蕭子顯.There are four noteworthy features in this historical narrative of the man peoples. First, because the man often joined the Northern Wei in revolt against the Qi, the term “Man-Lu” 蠻虜 (southern and northern barbarians) appears frequently. Second, among the man peoples, the Jingzhou man 荊州蠻 plays a leading role in this chapter. Third, Xiao Zixian did not completely approve of the Qi practice of winning the allegiance of the man peoples by granting them official titles. Fourth, although in this history the man peoples are not are classified by location or origins, Xiao Zixian is still concerned with their customs, and considers these customs the root causes of revolt.