What are three wives and four concubines?

Three wives and four concubines refer to the number of concubines that a man can legally own in traditional China society.

Specifically, three wives means that a man can marry three legal wives at the same time, and four concubines means that he can have four legal concubines. In feudal society, the importance of carrying on the family line and children is very important to men. Therefore, rich people can increase the number of offspring and consolidate family power and status through polygamy.

However, with the development of society and the change of ideas, this kind of polygamy is gradually banned and abandoned. Modern society generally advocates the values of equality and respect for individual rights. Marriage laws in most places prohibit polygamy and stipulate that a man can only marry one woman legally. Therefore, the concept of three wives and four concubines is not recognized or allowed in modern society.

The main reasons for the abolition of the system of three wives and four concubines;

1, family stability: Polygamy can easily lead to contradictions and conflicts within the family. Jealousy, fighting and discord may occur between multiple wives, which will adversely affect the stability and harmony of the family.

2. Balance resources: Polygamy will lead to unequal distribution and concentration of resources. Rich men can have more concubines, while poor people can hardly have more concubines. This imbalance and accumulation of resources has a negative impact on social stability and fairness.

3. Improving the status of women: The reform of the marriage system is also closely related to improving the status of women and striving for equal rights and interests. Modern society pursues women's equal status and independent rights, while polygamy restricts women's free choice and rights protection.