Question

Chinese men welded public authority, but they won their rights to it by virtue of the female line of their descent. I don't understand how they won their authority. Can someone rephrase "by... descent."?

Answer 1

These definitions might help

Answer 2

the act, process, or fact of moving from a higher to a lower position.
Synonyms: falling, sinking; fall, drop.
2.
a downward inclination or slope.
Synonyms: decline, grade, declivity; slant.
3.
a passage or stairway leading down.
4.
derivation from an ancestor; lineage; extraction.
Synonyms: ancestry, parentage, origin.
5.
any passing from higher to lower in degree or state; decline.
Synonyms: decrease, drop, plunge, decline, lessening, contraction, downturn.
6.
a sudden raid or hostile attack.
Synonyms: assault, foray; raid, incursion, sneak attack.
7.
Law. transmission of real property by intestate succession.

Answer 3

@waterflame