Fieldwork Analysis of Family Structures and Intergenerational Relations in East Asia

Abstract

This article provides a critical review of recent fieldwork-based research on family structures and intergenerational relations in East Asia, with a focus on China, Japan, and South Korea. Drawing on ethnographic studies, life histories, and comparative sociological surveys, it explores how traditional patriarchal norms rooted in Confucian ethics---such as filial piety, patrilineality, and co-residence---have been transformed under the pressures of demographic aging, urbanization, and shifting gender roles. The review highlights key areas of transformation, including the decline of extended families, the redefinition of caregiving responsibilities, and the rise of negotiated or "contractual" filiality. Methodological reflections reveal both the richness and the limitations of current research, particularly in terms of urban bias, the underrepresentation of women's voices, and the need for more comparative, digitally informed, and mixed-method approaches. The article argues that while traditional values remain symbolically influential, East Asian families are undergoing a profound restructuring, characterized by both cultural continuity and strategic adaptation.