The Tang Dynasty Dowry Que

IIn ancient China,"women without personal assets" has been advocated. But the dowry is one of the possessions that women could grasp by themselves. Because of their family ’s different social status, the number and type of dowry of different hierarchy of the women also have obvious differences. As a period of great prosperity in ancient China, The dowry of the Tang Dynasty reflects the general condition of the ancient society. It’s worth noting that many rules and laws about the dowry rights of women began to appear from the Tang Dynasty. It became the important performance of their possessions. During the Tang and Song Dynasty, the dowry situation is both succession and variations. In the legal rule, the Song dynasty inherited the woman’s dowry rights what the Tang Dynasty formulated, and besides that, the Song dynasty also improved and systematic. But the dowry of the Song Dynasty is more prevalent than the Tang, and even more than the quantity of betrothal gifts. It is closely related with the social background, such as the decline of the noble patriarch system, the continuous improvement of the imperial examination system, and the prevalence of the commodity economy and etc., that began since the late Tang Dynasty. The dowry has significance to both women and society relation. It is an important link to determine the marital relationship, and an important manifestation of the Status of Women. However, the extravagant wedding culture and high dowry have a negative impact on social values and social order. At the same time, the mismanagement of the dowry as a private financial is also an important reason of family conflicts.