One-child remaining parent system

...In particular, the difference in the innate status between the eldest son and the second and third sons among brothers is extended to the main family branch relationship, and the most notable feature of the brotherly relationship recognized here is the difference between the one who inherits the main family and the second and third sons who establish the branch family. This difference is common in Japanese direct lineage families that are based on the system of one child remaining, and this difference is often seen in the performance of rites of passage. In contrast, the equal inheritance system is an inheritance system that does not create any difference between brothers, and the practice of "ihai wake" (the practice of all children having their parent's ihai), which is one form of ihai ritual, can be said to have a similar meaning.

*Some of the terminology used in reference to the "one-child remaining system" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…とくに兄弟間の長男と次･三男の生得的身分的地位の差異を本分家関係にまで拡大したものであり，ここに認められる兄弟関係の著しい特徴は，本家を相続するものと分家を創設する次･三男の差である。この差は一子残留制を基本とする日本の直系型家族において一般的であり，通過儀礼などの遂行にあたってこの差がよくあらわれる。これに対して均分相続制は兄弟間の格差をつけない相続制度であり，位牌祭祀形態のひとつである〈位牌分け〉(親の位牌を子ども全員がもつ慣行)もこれに類似した意味をもつといえる。…

※「一子残留制」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報