Objective/Meaning With the acceleration of modernization and the degree deepening of population aging, the problem of rural pension problem has become increasingly prominent. This study aimed to explore the value and influence of clan culture in the mode of rural mutual support for the elderly, to analyze the challenges it faced, and to put forward the innovative paths to deal with the problem of rural pension problem.

Methods/Procedures  Through the literature review and case analysis, the operational mechanism and practical dilemma of clan culture in rural mutual support for the elderly were studied by taking into account the differences in clan culture between the northern and southern regions of China.

Results/Conclusions  The study found that clan culture, with blood as the link, provided a cultural foundation for rural mutual support for the elderly, but faced the challenges such as the rise of individualism, insufficient policy support, and the dislocation between traditional culture and modern governance. It was suggested to promote the integration of clan culture and modern pension service mechanism by reshaping the clan public space, utilizing the digital tools, and sublimating the ethics of filial piety and fraternal duty and other innovative paths, so as to provide new ideas and methods for rural pension.