The discrimination on theories of the formation of patriarchal lineage system since Song and Ming Dynasties

The discussion of theories of the formation about patriarchal lineage system since Song and Ming Dynasties, is divided into two different periods. The dividing line seems the cusp of 1980s and 1990s.The rationale of the earlier period research is followed by four theories: the theory of village commune, the theory of lineage authority, the theory of thought about patriarchal lineage system, the theory of restriction of land relations, which related to the modern patriarchal lineage under the vision of the form of feudal society. In later period, based on the reality of research, there are some breakthroughs of the earlier period's rationale. The main appearances are the popularity of patriarchal lineage, three kinds of change of the family organization and the social vicissitude, the theory of national approbation, the village stipulation of patriarchal lineage, and the generalized analysis on the reason of patriarchal lineage's formation. One of the important methods is grasping the formation and the nature of the modern patriarchal lineage system, then making a comparison between the modern patriarchal lineage and the powerful families in middle ages. Influenced by the theory of later period of feudal society, the comparisons of patriarchal lineage have something in common. The opinion is that before Song Dynasty patriarchal lineage system and society had the nature of identity, so powerful families controled the society; after Song Dynasty, the society hadn't the nature of identity, so the statuses of the ordinary bureauacrats and the people ascended and they owned patriarchal lineage. The new research takes notice of that the female lineages were valued in the lineages of middle ages. This deepens our understanding of the society. The Japanese scholars' researches on the Chinese middle ages' society, under the instruction of the theory about transformation from Tang to Song, put forward some theories: nobility system, powerful families as a community, and so on. We'd better draw lessons from them. We should re-examine the formation matter of patriarchal lineage system since Song and Ming Dynasties from view of the social culture vicissitude; and pay attention to the topics about patriarchal lineage system since Song and Ming Dynasties, such as new and old, south and north, bureaucrat and people, state and patriarchal lineage, conservative and innovation, and so on. We should grasp the materials fully, improve the way of reading , as well as having more theory breakthroughs.