Clan and Ritual System—Introduction to the Marriage System in Early Ancient China

Early Chinese society went through a transition from a primitive society to a slave society and then to a feudal society. Early marriages in ancient China essentially formed a relatively stable marriage process and marriage principles. Early marriages were heavily influenced by etiquette and social hierarchies, and as a result, different marriage patterns emerged, including mixed marriage, polygamy, dual marriage, and monogamy. The pattern of marriage changed iteratively during different social periods, but the stabilizing effect of marriage on society and its oppression of women remained unchanged. The comparison of marriage patterns at different stages is important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of marriage patterns and the historical development process.