Study on Family Rules in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Abstract

In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the state laid emphasis on the village society control, encouraging families at different places to set norms restraining family members in genealogical record and vesting family elders with power to decide and enforce these norms. It was in this period that the family rules achieved rapid development, having increasingly mature content and form and general support from authorities; therefore, the Ming and Qing Dynasties became a typical time for the development of ancient family rules.