Folk Laws for Dispute Resolution in Ming and Qing Societies
In the rural society of the Ming and Qing dynasties,the folk law system composed of customary law and family law controlled and regulated rural disputes through a unique mode of operation,which in turn affected the psychology of ordinary people who formed the basis of rural social stability.By relying on village organizations to resolve conflicts on-site,this system effectively prevented and resolved contradictions and disputes.The folk laws of the Ming and Qing dynasties exhibited unusually distinct practicality and locality in terms of content,form,and institutional practices.At the same time,they maintained a moderate relationship with the national legal system regarding conceptual values and procedural operations.This not only compensated for the shortcomings of national law in design and implementation but also alleviated the pressure faced by local governments in determining resolutions to disputes and maintaining local order.
folk lawsdomestic discipline and clan rulesfolk dispute resolutionlocal governance