This study discusses how the aspects of moral supports, i.e., mutual assistance and support systems, shifted in China at the time of drastic change of economic and marketing systems. We conducted questionnaire research in 1988, trying to portray the difference before and after the change. The analytical methods as well as our conclusions are described below :
1) Workforce : Departure from the socialistic regnum required restructuring of economic and marketing systems including the form of employment.
2) Female workers : Noteworthy was the expanded shift of the range of the support systems for female workforce.
3) Social and economic status : It is noted that those in higher hierarchies seem to depend highly on public, marketing systems; different hierarchies seemed to continue to rely on their respective resources.
4) The main shift has occurred from the traditional patriarchal dependence system to a tripartite dependence system consisting of father, children and friends.
5) It appears that the traditional aspect of assistance and support by bondage has continued to exist more or less; the proportional importance of respective support systems has undergone some change.
