Reseach On Huizhou’s Respect And Provision For The Aged During The Ming And Qing Dynasties

Respecting and providing the aged is Chinese traditional virtue which has been handed down so far. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties corresponding meatures are relatively complete in Huizhou with distinguished region characteristics and strong clan consciousness. It’s due to the rulers’ strong advocation, profound impact of Neo-confucianism and kindness of the clansmen such as officers, gentlemen and businessmen, what’s more, the three forces-families, clans and regional goverment intersect with each other.The families are the main force of supporting the aged. During the family-based support, children not only take care of the details of parent’s life, but also offer them moral support. In addition, when parents fall ill, children look after them hand and foot. The families play an major role of providing the aged. Facing various problems caused by the aged who’re widowed, alone and ill, the clansmen take steps accordingly. For example, they promote respecting and providing the ages, support their life, provide them with free houses, farmland and tomb for proper entombment, etc. In order to improve their living conditions and the quality of life. The government is a powerful support for social elderly care. They build up the atmosphere of respecting the aged and make them entitled to allowance and exempt them from fatigue reducing the families’ burden. As for the unsupported aged, the government set up nursing home. The above three parties coordinate with each other creating the sound living environment together for the Huizhou aged during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.In the process of providing for the aged, family support is the basic foundation. In addition to that, social measures are also of great importance, in which the goverment and clanmen become the main undertaker. All these forces intersect together providing favorable environment for the ages to spend their remaining years happily, making for family development and promoting the stability and development of society. Trough the research of Huizhou’s porviding for the Aged during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, social situation of traditional Huizhou could be observed, which is also beneficial to solving aging problems nowadays.