The Lawsuit Of Lv’s Lineage In Huizhou Prefecture And The Study Of The Change Of Local Society In The Late Ming Dynasty

Focusing on the interaction between lineage and commerce in Huizhou Prefecture in the Ming dynasty,this thesis studies the development of Lv’s lineage and the history of their ancestral hall.The paper explores newly discovered archives,such as Lv’s Fuyuan Bingtie Lichao Shilu,and rebuilds the litigation process of Lv’s.As a commercial lineage,the success of business enhanced obviously Lv’s competitiveness,expanded its scale and finally,promoted the transformation of Lv’s ancestral hall.However,business activities stimulated also lineage members to migrate to other cities,and therefore weakened the influence of Lv’s lineage in local society.At the same time,lipai(rural officials)and gentries began to challenge the legitimacy of Lv’s ancestral hall.The lawsuit between the two sides broke out in 1612,and continued about two years.Finally,Lv’s lineage failed.Lv’s ancestral hall and its property were confiscated.The case of Lv’s lineage reflected that business had doubledfaced impacts on lineage development in the late Ming dynasty.Business benefits were sources of lineage contraction,however,the liquidity of business activities caused separation among members,and finally weaken the power of lineage in local society.