In the Naxi of China, descent is traced only on the mother's side; there is no word for "father." In this system, what term describes the descent pattern?

• A. Patrilineal
• B. Matrilineal
• C. Bilateral
• D. Unilineal

Answer: (B)

Descent traced through the mother's line is matrilineal. In matrilineal systems, kinship, inheritance, and family membership are defined through female relatives, and the lineage is carried forward via the mother’s side. The absence of emphasis on the father in the kinship terms fits this pattern, since the lineage is not tracked through the paternal line. This differentiates matrilineal from patrilineal (descent through the father’s line) and bilateral (descent through both sides). While unilineal is a broader category describing descent through one line, matrilineal specifies the exact line being used—through women.