Patriarchy. The family, whether large or small, was patrilineal and patriarchal in imperial China. Maternal relatives, and the family of one's mother, were never closely bound to the primary kinship unit. Only paternal relatives were recognized as members of the kin-group and were able to participate in all rituals honoring common ancestors. The most important parts of Chinese family life were the use of patrilineal surnames, the worship of patrilineal ancestors, and the organization of kinship based on a common patrilineal descent. The ancestral cult was intimately tied to the kinship organization.

Surnames. Names that the Chinese use are diverse and complex. Chinese surnames were well established after the Tang period as either a badge of family dignity or of lineage identity. It is alleged that about five thousand years ago the earliest family names were given by Huang Ti to...