The Research Of The Female Succession System In Tang Dynasty

The succession system became riper in Tang Dynasty. Female in Tang Dynasty had more independence in economics and more rights in family wealth. The succession rights of female were protected by law and custom but there were also some differences between the rights.The law of succession in Tang Dynasty was divided into two parts:one was to inherit identity, the other was to inherit property. The inheritance of identity contained the identity of family line and the rank of nobility. Normally female could only inherit the property part. This was realized by law and testament in Tang Dynasty. The property inheritance of virgin was mainly supported by her dowries, meanwhile, this part of property was different depending on whether the maternal home with descendants or not. The succession power only depended on the trousseaux to married women. And the part of husband's property depended on the status when her husband died. Furthermore, decedent's testament was very important to heir. The succession power of female would be determined by how much the decedent liked her. There would be some female with special identity in this treatise like concubines, royal women and nobles. There was no guarantee for the succession power for concubines. However royal women and nobles belonged to upper class in Tang Dynasty. They could also get identity succession besides property succession.