The Historical Change of Chinese Ancient Clan Clustering and Clan Form

Chinese clan institution experiences three periods in the history: the patriarchal clan period in the Western Zhou Dynasty, the aristocracy period from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the middle of the Tang Dynasty, the plebeian clan period since the Song Dynasty. There are two transitional periods: from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Western Zhou Dynasty and from the middle of the Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties. The clan shows different forms in different developing periods. There are three main changes. First, the clan becomes more common and more plebeian. Second, the relationship between clan and regime becomes weakened and indirect. Third, the inner relationship of clan becomes relaxed, with weakened systemization and coercion. In addition, the fact that clan clustering is more popular in the north than in the south is changing towards the opposite.