Feudal rulers tighten control, abolishing independent judgment in rural China.
During the mid-Ming and early Qing dynasties, new grassroots organizations were created by the ruling class to maintain stability in rural areas. These organizations, like Baojia and Xiangyue, aimed to control behavior and enforce rules in villages. By the early Qing dynasty, feudal rulers promoted village regulations and controlled clan leaders through local officials. This eliminated the existence of independent Third fields that resolved disputes outside of government control.