... or causing conflicts between women and their in-laws. While the normative authority of lineage leaders was often diluted by opposition to their judgments or distracted from moral priorities by concerns about reputation, greed, or favoritism, the patriarchal prerogative of the patriline was also challenged...

... concerns about the weakness or corruption of local magistrates, local elites, and community elders haunted their proposals and reports, and they were especially ambivalent about the effectiveness and commitment of lineage leaders to the imperial state's agenda. While the state was profoundly ambivalent...