This dissertation investigates the local militia in Sichuan province and analyzes its relation with the local government and other political elites. Three characteristics of the militia stood out in this period: 1. public security organizations changed from the baojia system and the army to militia, 2. militia's function changed from military affairs to public security, and 3. the control of militia changed from the specially appointed Militia Chancellor to regular magistrates in daily administration. In Sichuan, rural society and local governments cooperated and conflicted in institutional structure and in administrational procedures. Local gentry and common people made use of the militia to advance their interests and challenged the magistrate's power. As a result, these gave rise to the growth of the Powerful Gentry in rural politics. All these were closely connected with the development of the militia. The government tried to get rid of the problems caused by the militia through the so-called "New Policy" or the modem police system. But many problems remained unsolved and continued to the end of the dynasty. / 孫明. / Adviser: Yuen Sang Leung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-03, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 297-306) / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Sun Ming.