Divided into two parts, this book offers a comprehensive and systematic exploration of the fascinating world of Chinese rural clans. The first part traces the historical evolution of rural clans, examining their formation alongside rural society and the key transitions between ancient, medieval, and modern clans. This establishes a strong foundation for understanding the development of rural clans throughout Chinese history. The second part delves deeper into five fundamental aspects of rural clans: (i) forms, (ii) internal functions, (iii) methods of organization and management, (iv) patriarchal blood relations and inter-clan relations, and (v) their role in rural politics. To offer a comprehensive and systematic understanding of Chinese rural clans, the author has meticulously studied a vast array of historical materials, including official and unofficial historical materials, local records, unearthed documents, clan genealogies, and data from modern rural social surveys.