宋代 孤兒救濟 政策과 機構

Abstract

The charity program for children and care system for the aged have been regarded as traditional Chinese institutions since the pre-Qin period, the orphan care has been one of the most important social responsibilities. Government has officially promoted relief programs in order to take care of lonely people(widow, widower, orphan, singles). Song dynasty has supported the women who give birth, has forbidden the act of child-discarding by law and punished the act of abandoning children. The government made a strong policy in order not to produce orphans and established professional institution for relief. For the anti-orphan policy, the Song government executed relief systems such as Taiyang-fa(胎養法:law of nurturing the pregnant women) and Yangzi-fa(養子法:law of adopted-son). For the first time, the professional orphan relief organization has been established for taking care of abandoned babies and children. In conclusion, Chinese orphan relief programs has been officially prac- ticed in the Song dynasty and they have made a major impact upon the modern relief policy and institutions for children, women and the aged person.