Editing Matrilineality (section)

==== China ====       <!-- a target for links from other articles -->
Originally, [[Chinese surname]]s were derived matrilineally,<ref name=naming>linguistics.berkeley.edu (2004).  http://www.linguistics.berkeley.edu/~rosemary/55-2004-names.pdf, "Naming practices". A PDF file with a section on "Chinese naming practices (Mak et al., 2003)".</ref> although by the time of the [[Shang dynasty]] (1600 to 1046 [[BCE]]) they had become patrilineal.<ref name=Zhimin>{{cite journal |last1=Zhimin |first1=An |title=Archaeological Research on Neolithic China |journal=Current Anthropology |date=1988 |volume=29 |issue=5 |pages=753–759 |doi=10.1086/203698 |jstor=2743616 |s2cid=144920735 }}</ref>

Archaeological data supports the theory that during the [[Neolithic]] period (7000 to 2000 [[BCE]]) in China, Chinese matrilineal clans evolved into the usual patrilineal families by passing through a transitional patrilineal clan phase.<ref name=Zhimin /> Evidence includes some "richly furnished" tombs for young women in the early Neolithic [[Yangshao]] culture, whose multiple other collective burials imply a matrilineal clan culture.<ref name=Zhimin /> Toward the late Neolithic period, when burials were apparently of couples, "a reflection of patriarchy", an increasing elaboration of presumed chiefs' burials is reported.<ref name=Zhimin />

Relatively isolated ethnic minorities such as the [[Mosuo]] (Na) in southwestern China are highly matrilineal.