1990/03/01 by Gary G. Hamilton · 7 citations
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Chinese history and philosophy #Historical Gender and Feminism Studies #Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes
paper · doi:10.2307/591019
Authority relations identified by the terms patriarchy, patrimonialism, and filial piety represent very different complexes of action in imperial China and Western Europe. Two sets of comparisons (developmental and configurational) demonstrate these differences in the institutional patterning of authority between China and Europe. The author argues, on the one hand, that in Western society legitimate domination is seen as the intentional, directional, and consequential acts of individuals acting within the boundaries of their jurisdictions. In China, on the other hand, it is seen as an aspect of specific sets of social roles, and hence as impersonal, non-intentional, and harmony-seeking. Some of the implications of these differences for social institutions are explored.