Ie (Japanese family system)
Encyclopedia
The , or "household", was the basic unit of Japanese law
until the end of World War II
: most civil and criminal matters were considered to involve families rather than individuals (Iwasawa 1998:233). The ie is considered to consist of grandparents, their son and his wife and their children (Shimizu 1987:85), although even in 1920, 54% of Japanese households already were nuclear families. The system was formally abolished with the 1947 revision of Japanese family law under the influence of the Allied occupation authorities, and Japanese society began a transition to a more Americanised nuclear family
system. However, the number of nuclear families only slightly increased until 1980, when it reached 63% and the Confucian
principles underlying the ie concept only gradually faded and are still informally followed to some degree by many Japanese people today.
Japanese law
-Historical Developments:Pre-Modern History The early law of Japan was heavily influenced by Chinese law. Little is known about Japanese law prior to the seventh century, when the Ritsuryō was developed and codified. Before Chinese characters were transplanted and adopted by the Japanese, the...
until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: most civil and criminal matters were considered to involve families rather than individuals (Iwasawa 1998:233). The ie is considered to consist of grandparents, their son and his wife and their children (Shimizu 1987:85), although even in 1920, 54% of Japanese households already were nuclear families. The system was formally abolished with the 1947 revision of Japanese family law under the influence of the Allied occupation authorities, and Japanese society began a transition to a more Americanised nuclear family
Nuclear family
Nuclear family is a term used to define a family group consisting of a father and mother and their children. This is in contrast to the smaller single-parent family, and to the larger extended family. Nuclear families typically center on a married couple, but not always; the nuclear family may have...
system. However, the number of nuclear families only slightly increased until 1980, when it reached 63% and the Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
principles underlying the ie concept only gradually faded and are still informally followed to some degree by many Japanese people today.