This paper explores the family dynamics and inheritance practices in the Ming and Qing periods, providing insights into the family structures and inheritance systems of traditional Chinese society. The Ming and Qing periods were crucial eras of social, economic, and political transformation in Chinese history, with the family serving as the basic social unit reflecting the economic, cultural, and social aspects of the time. The paper first examines the family structures and internal power relations of the Ming and Qing dynasties, followed by an analysis of inheritance customs and property distribution, with a particular focus on the role of clans and the limitations on women’s inheritance rights. Additionally, the study investigates the impact of political, economic, and social changes on family structures, highlighting the differences in inheritance practices among various social classes and between urban and rural families. Finally, the paper concludes with an evaluation of the far-reaching impact of family dynamics and inheritance customs during the Ming and Qing periods on Chinese social and cultural development, and reflects on their contemporary significance.

Yiqi Wang. Household Dynamics and Inheritance Customs in Ming and Qing Dynasties: A Perspective on Traditional Chinese Society. International Journal of Frontiers in Sociology (2024), Vol. 6, Issue 11: 27-32. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFS.2024.061105.

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