Eighteenth-Century Chinese Marriage and Family Studies (An Analysis Based on Case Studies from 1781-1791)

Author: Wang Yuesheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-04-01
Features: This book is an academic monograph that conducts a comprehensive and systematic study of marriage and family in a specific historical period using archival materials. The 18th century is a significant historical stage in the late traditional Chinese society, and the research in this book will deepen our understanding of marriage and family during this period, revealing various characteristics of Chinese marriage and family life before the modern era. At the same time, it can also be seen that traditional factors continue to influence and shape marriage and family in contemporary China. Observing and analyzing marriage behavior and family structures from a historical period relatively close to the modern era not only holds high theoretical value but also helps us better understand the realities of Chinese society today. Through in-depth research on a large number of case studies collected, the author puts forward many new perspectives. For example, in the analysis of marriage behavior, the author points out that based on archival materials, the marriage behavior in 18th-century China is characterized by diversity, with both the prevalence of early marriage among women and the existence of widespread late marriage among men.