The Relations Between Township Rules and Patriarchal Clans in Huizhou During the Middle Period of Ming Dynasty

As one of the basic component units of the rural society in pre - contemporary China, patriarchal clans, with a long history of great vitality, have existed up to the present time. Of course, it cannot be denied that patriarchal clans play proper functions as an important factor in management of the rural society in China. The rural organizations such as Jia (Each Jia consisted of ten households) and Baojia (Each Bao comprised ten Jia. ) , as well as township rules and regulations, in both Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty were closely related to the patriarchal clans. But, the studies or researches on China's rural society conducted so far have not made adequate discussions of the intricate relations between the rural social organizations and the patriarchal clans. By analyzing The Township Rules and Household Regulations Valid for Chen Clan in Wentang, which Chen Clan in Wentang of Qimen County of Huizhou District adopted and started to carry out in 1572, this paper attempts to find out the complicated relations between township rules and patriarchal clans.