Polygamy: Ancient Chinese Society and Family Structure

Author: Zhang Guo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-09-01
Features: The polygynous family structure in China emerged with the establishment of the autocratic monarchy and persisted until the early 20th century. It had a deep-rooted and long-standing history spanning thousands of years. From family and social structures, it permeated into concepts and ideologies, becoming a persistent obstacle to social progress over the long course of history. In the early 20th century, with the collapse of the last autocratic hereditary dynasty, the polygamy system was finally abolished. However, its remnants persisted, resurfacing in various new forms, such as extramarital polygyny and the "population-first" ideology aimed at reproduction and childbirth. These phenomena exerted significant negative impacts on socioeconomic, political, cultural, ecological, and civic aspects, leading to severe adverse consequences. Due to the inherent of the topic of polygyny, research on this subject, especially high-level academic works, has been scarce in the past. Professor Zhang Guo of Inner Mongolia University has dedicated years to studying the issues mentioned above. In this book, he conducts an in-depth research on ancient Chinese polygyny, laying foundational work in tracing its origins, examining its evolution, and providing illustrative examples. It is a work worth reading.