Niuwu

Niuwu was a Hani chiefdom in the highlands south of Yuanjiang, including the villages of Niuwu and Wulong. The early Ming granted hereditary native offices to Hani headmen who opened hill fields.

In 1433 the headmen Ren Zhe and Tuo Bi travelled to Beijing to offer tribute and request titles for their distant and populous territory. The Xuande emperor created the Niuwu Chief's Office under Lin'an Prefecture, appointing Ren chief and Tuo his deputy over the local villages.