“家族”是人类最早的和最持久的社会组织形式①,也是构成人类社会发展史的一项基本内容。摩尔根通过家族及其常规形态演变的历史考察证明,家族是一个能动要素,它既是一定社会发展阶段的产物,反过来又曾经对社会进步起到过推动作用。他由亲属称谓推及婚姻家族形态的发展,又由 The “family” is the earliest and most enduring form of social organization in mankind. It is also an essential part of the history of the development of human society. The historical investigation of the evolution of the family and its conventional forms shows that the family is an active element, which is not only a product of a certain stage of social development, but has in the meantime promoted the social progress. He is promoted by the kinship title and the development of the marriage family form, again by