Three wives and four concubines in ancient times, so many sons how to divide the property, how did the ancients do?

Ancient people often three wives and four concubines have many children, even in today's society, there are many families because of the distribution of property and fall out. In ancient times, when there were many children, the ancients developed a series of property distribution systems to avoid such situations. These systems are not set in stone, and have been reflected in various dynasties, including the patriarchal system, the system of inheritance of the first-born son, and the order to push the benefactor and so on.

Beginning with the Shang Dynasty, the royal aristocracy, whose family's destiny was linked to the fate of the nation, developed a patriarchal system. The patriarchal system is a system of distribution based on blood relations under the patrilineal bloodline. The patriarchal system is divided into major and minor clans, and major and minor clans are relative in nature. For example, from the state level, the first-born son is appointed as the son of heaven, and the other children are the vassals. Then, the son of the emperor is the major clan and the other children are the minor clans. At the vassal level, the first-born son of a vassal inherits the title and is divided into vassals. The other children are divided into ministers or dafu, and at this time, the vassals are the major zongs, while the ministers and dafu are the minor zongs.

Here we have to mention the first-born son inheritance system. We all know that the ancients set up the longest not to set up the wise, in order to maintain the stability of the feudal system is the distribution of property, there are more clear system regulations. The ancients believed that the person with the most right to inheritance is the first-born son, that is, the largest son born of the main wife. Such a system established, and not without reason. The ancients emphasized status with a strict hierarchy, and at the same time were influenced by traditional concepts such as Confucianism. First-born son inheritance system, both follow the concept of inferiority and superiority, but also follow the concept of the order of the eldest and youngest. It was indeed an excellent method of establishing succession in ancient times.

In order to weaken the power of the vassals during the period of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of Han implemented the Pui En Order. Through the Pui En Order, the vassals were allowed to distribute their land to their sons, who in turn distributed it to their sons. The actual amount of land held by each individual became smaller and smaller, thus accomplishing the Han Wu Di's goal of reducing the power of the lords, while at the same time creating another system for the lords to divide up their own property.

The ancient system of dividing property was more arbitrary, and today, because of the small number of children, most of them take an equal share or pass it directly to the only child to carry on the inheritance of property.