本文探討明清之際西南地區土司如何長期經營文化與文學傳承，一方面親近主流的漢人儒家文化，一方面保有其本土特質。土司透過多樣的文學活動來“展演”文化，從而鬆動了漢與非漢的界線。論文的核心文本是清初文人顧彩所作的日記體遊記《容美紀遊》。

This article explores how chieftains on the southwest periphery during the Ming-Qing transition conducted long-term plans to formulate cultural and literary heritages that had an affinity with Han Chinese mainstream culture but also retained indigenous qualities. The author demonstrates that the boundaries between Han and non-Han peoples became more negotiable with the enterprising efforts of chieftains to “perform” civilization by way of literary activities. The discussion centers on Rongmei jiyou (My Travel to Rongmei), a travelogue in diary form by early Qing scholars and playwright Gu Cai.