Abstract: In order to maintain and improve their social status , Qing lineages helped to establish many lineage schools. They stipulated school rules and expected that the schools could generate more talent for the lineages. Depending either on endowment school land or on education funds fromother public revenues , the lineages assisted education in many ways. The historical significance of the lineage schools could be felt on the following aspects : (1) lineage schools was the continuation and realization of the traditional idea of charitable education ; (2) through promoting more talent lineage schools helped the lineages and local culture to keep vigorous ; (3) lineage schools eventually became an important means of schooling and part of the local education in the Qing Dynasty