The Change Of Zhao-Mu System In Song,Ming And Qing Dynasties:Qing Dynasties

Zhao-Mu system was an important part of patriarchal clan system in ancient China.As a legitimacy structure for the sorting of male ancestors,it was an important criterion for the ancestor worship and the legitimacy-first succession to the throne.The paper,based on the current studies and materials,taking the rites for the worship of sons except the wife's eldest son in Song,Ming and Qing Dynasties as the corroborative evidence,point by point analyzed people's attitude toward the succession based on the uncle-nephew relationship rather than the father-son relationship at that time.Under the headlight of rationalistic ideas,the theory about people's responsibilities and social order and law sprang up in the Song Dynasty.The ritual idea that "the successor shall be regarded as the deceased male's son" was achieved under Zhao-Mu system.In this context,brothers were treated differently under Zhao-Mu system and the title of FATHER belonged to the deceased male rather than the biological father.The idea that being a stepson was not a necessary condition in succession proposed by Emperor Jiajing became the way for ritual scholars in later ages to distinguish the two ideas above.Ritual cases proved that the two ideas abovementioned were emphasized by each other.Though "the titles of father and son could not be changed,the responsibility of monarch and subject should not be mixed",the kinship was no longer seized by false moral principles.The change in the ritual idea of "being harmonious and respectful",in the inner side,could be concluded as the self-harmony of the inner contradictions in,the presentation of the Confucian classics argumentation as well as the self-realization of the time-changing ritual system.In the outer side,it could be regarded as the adaptation and feedback to the real political environment,the folk custom at that time and the evolution of academic atmosphere by ritual scholars.Under the positive interaction of such multiple factors,the two succession ideas gradually separated from the metaphysical spiritual authority and transformed into a modern and practical style.