Build Concubine Of The Qing Dynasty To The Republic Of Customs And Social Change

The following subjects are expounded in this dissertation: Did concubines, who were inferior to wife in criminal law in Qing Dynasty, enjoy certain rights in civil code? How did the statutes on concubines adjust itself during the period of Republican China? How did the way of concubine-taking and the rank of concubines change from Qing Dynasty to Republican China? Why could the custom of concubine-taking exist for so long? What was its social and psychological background?Conclusion: By the criminal law in Qing Dynasty, a concubine was inferior to husband and wife. But a concubine with son or grandson could enjoy somewhat respects in family. The relations between a concubine and the patriarch were no longer treated as a marriage but as a contract during the period of Republican China. As a member of the family, a concubine could enjoy the property rights, the right of being supported and the right of heirdom. All of these rights were originated from the laws and customs in Qing Dynasty. The status of concubines were improved gradually in late Qing and early Republican China. That's why the rights of wife were reemphasized in civil code in Republican China. Taking a concubine could contain the power of a wife. It was helpful to the rule of patriarchy and to the multiplying of a clan. In Confucianism, both male and female shouldn't indulge in carnal pleasure without restrain. In spite of such assertion, Confucianism was also in favor of man's unilateral right of sexuality. So concubine-taking provided a compromised solution to this dilemma.