Author Description

Thirteen theses comprise this book. Among theses on Korean family the most interesting and important are those dealing with the changes in the structure of Korean family and kinsfolk. What was most influential was marriage residence rule. Matrilocal period was comparatively long and extended to the end of the Koryo dynasty. Matrilocal term was, however, gradually shortened in the Choseon dynasty, are was drastically curtailed at the end of the dynasty, hence the change in two constituents of family. The reasons why these changes in the structure of Korean family and kinsfolk took place in the mid-seventeenth century are presumed as follows. First, the ideology of confucianism completely penetrated the daily life of the masses. Second, in order to cope with conflicts of political groups patrilineal or male-orientated kinsfolk groups had to be born. Third, so as to overcome the economic indigence in the aftermath of the Japanese Invasion in the last decade of the sixteenth century equal division of property between sons and daughters had to be abolished, and adoption system firmly established to prevent the family line from being broken off. Fourth, with a view to maintaining the status of yangban class strong patrilineal clans had to be organized.