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The Manchu people are the second largest people
group in China, after the Han people. They are
descendants from a warrior class in north China.
At one time they ruled the Mongols but were
later driven out. In 1644, the Manchu broke
through the great wall and, after several decades
of conquest, established the Qing dynasty which
ruled China for 267 years. During their time
as conquerors, they assimilated into Chinese culture
and gradually lost some of their distinctiveness.
The basic Manchu family unit includes not only
husband, wife, children, but also the extended
family. Families were previously a part of a village clan,
which itself was part of a larger clan. In former
times, divorce was strictly prohibited; a woman
could not leave her husband for any reason.
Men, however, had the right to divorce after
a public declaration. After the Communist takeover
divorce statistics skyrocketed so much so that
the government added restrictions to stem the
tide.
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