明代县以下区划的层级结构及其功能

明代县以下层级结构具有明显的区域差异性，这种差异在南方江南地区和北方黄河流域尤为明显，究其原因在于人口数量和人口密度的不同。一般来说，南方地区多采用乡一都一图三级制，北方则多为乡——社(里)二级制。就不同的层级而言，乡、都、图又有不同的行政和社会功能。

Administrative Divisions and Their Functions Below County Level in Ming Dynasty

Administrative divisions below county of the Ming Dynasty has distinctive regional divergences,which is especially obvious in Jiangnan area and the valley of Yellow River because of the difference of quantity and density of population.Generally speaking,the southern area mostly adopts the system of Xiang Du Tu,while the northern area mostly adopts the system Xiang She(Li).As far as different classe are concerned,administrative and social functions are different in Xiang?Du and Tu.