Family Tree Talk
What kind of book is Family Tree?
There are many names for family trees. Common ones include family tree, genealogy, genealogy, family tree, house tree, branch tree, genealogy , family tree, pedigree, etc. There are four views on the definition of family tree:
The first view is that a family tree is a book that records the clan or clan lineage. This is from the basic or original meaning of genealogy, that is, in a narrow sense. Liu Yunduan of the Qing Dynasty said: "Genealogy is called genealogy."
The second view is that a family tree is a book that records a family's lineage and deeds. This is from the expanded or later meaning of family tree, that is, from the broad sense. Said above. Fang Xiaoru, a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, said: "The genealogist is the general one, who generally records the distance, name, taboo words, and year number of the ancestors. The genealogy person is the cloth, which is the spreader of the ancestors. Genealogy; records of marriages and official affairs are called records. The records written by emperors are called records, the books written by princes are called histories, and the records written by officials are called genealogies. In short, they are called genealogies. Supplement it. Therefore, it is said: The order determines the origin of the surname, and the number of centuries is far and near. The father is Zhao and the son is Mu, and the whole generation lies in the present."
The third view is that family tree is family history , which is based on the attributes of family tree. Regardless of the broad or narrow sense of genealogy, the content recorded in it is a reflection of family history.
The fourth view is a compromise view of the above three views. It is the view of modern genealogy expert Ouyang Zongshu, who believes that "A family tree is a book that mainly records the lineage of clan figures and records clan deeds in ancient Chinese patriarchal society. The history of clan development recorded in a special form "Ouyang Zongshu "Chinese Genealogy" I agree with this view. The definition of a family tree is clear, and its nature is not difficult to identify: it is a history book of a family and belongs to the general category of history.
Although genealogy belongs to the category of history, it has different characteristics compared with official history and local chronicles:
- is compiled with universality. In the history of the Chinese nation, genealogy has had a vast and long-lasting influence. From the beginning of clear historical records to the Republic of China, the entire China, from the emperor to the common people; from villages to cities, from the Han people to various ethnic minorities, has been continuously compiling and updating family trees.
- description range. Genealogy is generally compiled within the scope of a specific clan, and the content it describes is generally within the scope of the clan.
- has extensive content , with rich and reliable information. The content of Chinese genealogy covers all aspects of the clan, such as the origin of the clan's surname, clan migration, population rise and fall, clan rise and fall, social changes, clan marriages, funerals, clan customs, as well as the clan's politics, economy, culture, education, law, The data on military, literature, religious activities, etc. are extremely rich. Genealogy is a record of family affairs by the people of the tribe. The data collection is more cautious, so it is more reliable.
- revised notation continuity . "The genealogy is also revised every thirty years. If you don't respect this, it will be unfilial."
After clarifying the definition, nature and characteristics of family trees, let's take a look at how the ancients compiled family trees. The ancients believed that there were three major events in life, which were building family trees, building ancestral halls, and building tombs . Just as the government attaches great importance to the revision of history and local chronicles, the revision of genealogy is rigorous, cautious and lively, and the collection of genealogies is cherished, proper and confidential. Genealogy compilation must go through the following procedures: First, a genealogy editing committee headed by the patriarch is formed. The editorial board generally consists of the major (served by the patriarch), the editor, the editor, the supervisor, the co-editor, the proofreader, etc. The number of people on the editorial board mainly depends on the size of the clan, which generally ranges from a dozen to several hundred people. After the editorial board, the so-called genealogy bureau, is established, it will be necessary to raise funds for and revision. Half of the funds come from income from clan fields, sacrificial fields and other clan properties. Each male who enters the music must pay a certain amount of money.Once the funding is available, the editorial board begins editing and editing, which is called "starting". After the "general rules" (general examples) in the genealogy are determined, the clan members are generally notified to indicate the purpose and basic style of the genealogy compilation. After the manuscript is compiled, someone is asked to carefully write and print it, and the editors and reviewers are responsible for proofreading. . After the genealogy book is bound, the clan members must be notified. Then the auspicious person is selected, gongs and drums are played to clear the way, firecrackers are blasted, and the score is welcomed back to the ancestral hall in a sedan chair. This is called "outgoing score". After the genealogy is brought into the ancestral hall, it is placed in the sacred nugget, lit with incense and offered as an offering, and then an auspicious day is chosen. All men in the family, regardless of their age, must bathe and change their clothes, dress up new, and worship the genealogy reverently. This is called "worshiping the genealogy " ". After the family tree worship ceremony, the clan leader took out a red pen and circled the family tree. Generally, there is one for each room and one for the ancestral hall. After the genealogy is collected, the clans with better economic conditions can hold a banquet that night. All those who attend the worship can sit down and dine in order of seniority. On the night of the worship ceremony and the next three days or even a week, opera troupes are usually invited to the village to perform operas to add to the fun, and the tribesmen are immersed in a joyful atmosphere. Almost all clan laws in various places include items such as "careful genealogy" and "keep the genealogy secretly", requiring the custodians of the family tree to treat the family tree as a treasure, protect it properly and safely, and not show it to others easily. Violators will be severely punished by the clan.
Should we build family trees now? I think this is the right thing to do. The most powerful curse word is "forgetting one's roots". The roots are the roots, and the roots are the family tree. In addition, from the perspective of the need to maintain historical continuity, the long-standing family tree has become one of the three pillars (official history, local chronicles, and family trees) supporting the historical edifice with its large, rich, and extensive records. If we say that official history and local chronicles have The broad aspect records the historical development process of the country as a whole and local areas in the past, while the genealogy shows the various micro worlds of the feudal patriarchal society at that time.
combines official history, local chronicles, and genealogy for comprehensive research. It can not only see the development direction of our country's history, but also see the rich and colorful realistic pictures of our country in the past, giving our country's history a three-dimensional and holistic sense. From this I thought: If the situation of only compiling national history and local chronicles without compiling family trees continues for a long time, there will be no one to collect and organize precious information on micro-level social and economic organizations. One of the three pillars that can support the building of modern history will be missing. ? Can we leave complete, large, rich, and extensive historical data to future generations? I don't think it's possible. In order to maintain the continuity of history, talents must be worthy of future generations.
Search for your roots and ask your ancestors where they are. In the past, the same surname was spread all over the world. It is really not easy to find your ancestors of more than N generations. But now, with the help of a large database, you can match your surname, generation and common ancestors. The clansmen can definitely achieve it.
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