Abstract: Taking t he case of the Qis , a very prominent lineage in Shouyang , Shanxi Province , this article investigates the process by which large clans utilized a variety of resources to establish its authority in grass-roots society.After the lineage’s authority gradually declined , the villagers still preserved the historical memory of the Qi’s authority and utilized this local resource.Through investigating the example of Qi family , we not only enrich our understanding of the living conditions of lineages in North China , but , at the same time , deepen our understanding of the power of the lineages , the resources of local authority , and the power nexus in North China.