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Chinese kin

February 16, 2024

A Chinese kin, lineage or sometimes rendered as clan, is a patrilineal and patrilocal group of related Chinese people with a common surname sharing a common ancestor and, in many cases, an ancestral home.

Chinese kin
Chinese宗族
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese家族

Description edit

Chinese kinship tend to be strong in southern China, reinforced by ties to an ancestral village, common property, and often a common spoken Chinese dialect unintelligible to people outside the village. Kinship structures tend to be weaker in northern China, with clan members that do not usually reside in the same village nor share property.

Zupu—the genealogy book edit

A zupu (simplified Chinese: 族谱; traditional Chinese: 族譜; pinyin: zúpǔ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Cho̍k-phó͘) is a Chinese kin register or genealogy book, which contains stories of the kin's origins, male lineage and illustrious members. The register is usually updated regularly by the eldest person in the extended family, who hands on this responsibility to the next generation. The "updating" of one's zupu (simplified Chinese: 修族谱; traditional Chinese: 修族譜; pinyin: xiū zúpǔ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Siu cho̍k-phó͘) is a very important task in Chinese tradition, and can be traced back thousands of years. After several generations, the local clan lineage will often publish a compendium of these zupus. The overwhelming majority of zupus remain in private hands, though a large number may be found in the Peking University, Shanghai Library, Cornell University and Tōyō Bunko.

Chinese lineage associations edit

 
Cài family ancestral temple in Shantou, Guangdong.
 
People forgather for a worship ceremony at an ancestral shrine in Hong'an, Hubei.

Chinese lineage associations, also kinship or ancestral associations (simplified Chinese: 宗族社会; traditional Chinese: 宗族社會; pinyin: zōngzú shèhuì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chong-cho̍k Siā-hōe or simplified Chinese: 宗族协会; traditional Chinese: 宗族協會; pinyin: zōngzú xiéhuì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chong-cho̍k Hia̍p-hōe), are a type of social relationship institutions found in Han Chinese ethnic groups and the fundamental unit of Chinese ancestral religion. They gather people who share the same surname belonging to the same kin, who often have the same geographical origin (ancestral home), and therefore the same patron deities. They are not seen as distinct from the Chinese kin itself, but rather as its corporate form. These institutions and their corporeal manifestations are also known as lineage churches or kinship churches (Chinese: 宗族堂; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chong-cho̍k-tông; pinyin: zōngzú táng), or, mostly on the scholarly level, as Confucian churches,[1] although this term has principally other different meanings.

Chinese kinship associations are the corporate forms of kins and the fundamental unit of Chinese ancestral religion. They provide guanxi (social network) to members and they build and manage ancestral shrines or temples dedicated to the worship of the progenitors of the kins as their congregational centers, where they perform rites of unity.[2]

A lineage is a corporation, in the sense that members feel to belong to the same body, are highly conscious of their group identity, and derive benefits from jointly owned property and shared resources.[3] Benefit derives from the surplus income of ancestral shrines and homes, which is reinvested by the managers or shared out in yearly dividends.[4] Benefit of belonging to a lineage can also be measured in terms of protection and patronage.[4] Ancestral temples also support local schools and engage in charitable work.[5]

Different lineages may develop through the opposite processes of fusion and segmentation.[6] They can also be dispersed and fragmented into "multi-lineage areas" or concentrated in one place, or "single-lineage area".[6]

Ancestral shrine edit

 
Gé family ancestral shrine in Shantou, Guangdong.
Main article: Ancestral shrine

Ancestral temples or shrines are the congregation places of lineage associations, by whom they are built and managed. These temples are devoted to the worship of the progenitors of a certain kin, where the kin members meet and perform rites of unity and banquets.[2]

Variations edit

Consort kinship edit

In Imperial times, a consort kin was a kin with special status due to its connection with an emperor. Throughout Chinese history, consort kins have exercised great power at various times. There have been several usurpations of power by consorts, the most notable being the Han dynasty's Empress Dowager Lü (Chinese: 呂后; pinyin: Lǚ hòu), the Tang dynasty's Empress Wu (simplified Chinese: 武则天; traditional Chinese: 武則天; pinyin: Wǔ Zétiān; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Bú Chek-thian), and the Qing dynasty's Empress Dowager Cixi (Chinese: 慈禧太后; pinyin: Cíxǐ tàihòu). The Han dynasty usurper Wang Mang was a nephew of the Grand Empress Dowager Wang.[citation needed]

Qing period edit

During the Qing dynasty, the imperial government encouraged Chinese kins to take up some quasi-governmental functions such as those involving social welfare and primary education.[citation needed]

See also edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Scholar of Chinese traditional religion Liyong Dai uses the term "Confucclesia", "Confucian church".
  2. ^ a b Watson, 1982. pp. 595-597
  3. ^ Watson, 1982. p. 594
  4. ^ a b Watson, 1982. p. 600
  5. ^ Watson, 1982. pp. 601-602
  6. ^ a b Watson, 1982. pp. 604-609

Sources edit

  • Watson, James L. (December 1982). "Chinese Kinship Reconsidered: Anthropological Perspectives on Historical Research". China Quarterly. 92 (92): 589–622. doi:10.1017/S0305741000000965. JSTOR 653680. S2CID 145418707.
  • Tsai, Lily Lee (July 2002). "Cadres, Temple and Lineage Institutions, and Government in Rural China". The China Journal (48): 1–27. doi:10.2307/3182439. JSTOR 3182439. S2CID 147239659.
  • Cohen, Myron L. (August 1990). "Lineage Organization in North China". The Journal of Asian Studies. 49 (3): 509–534. doi:10.2307/2057769. JSTOR 2057769. S2CID 163489363.

External links edit

  • (in Chinese)

February 16, 2024
chinese, lineage, sometimes, rendered, clan, patrilineal, patrilocal, group, related, chinese, people, with, common, surname, sharing, common, ancestor, many, cases, ancestral, home, chinese宗族transcriptionsstandard, mandarinhanyu, pinyinzōngzúyue, cantonesejyu. A Chinese kin lineage or sometimes rendered as clan is a patrilineal and patrilocal group of related Chinese people with a common surname sharing a common ancestor and in many cases an ancestral home Chinese kinChinese宗族TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinzōngzuYue CantoneseJyutpingzung1 zuk6Southern MinHokkien POJchong cho kAlternative Chinese nameChinese家族TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu Pinyinjia zuYue CantoneseJyutpinggaa1 zuk6Southern MinHokkien POJka cho k Contents 1 Description 2 Zupu the genealogy book 3 Chinese lineage associations 4 Ancestral shrine 5 Variations 5 1 Consort kinship 5 2 Qing period 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Citations 7 2 Sources 8 External linksDescription editChinese kinship tend to be strong in southern China reinforced by ties to an ancestral village common property and often a common spoken Chinese dialect unintelligible to people outside the village Kinship structures tend to be weaker in northern China with clan members that do not usually reside in the same village nor share property Zupu the genealogy book editA zupu simplified Chinese 族谱 traditional Chinese 族譜 pinyin zupǔ Pe h ōe ji Cho k pho is a Chinese kin register or genealogy book which contains stories of the kin s origins male lineage and illustrious members The register is usually updated regularly by the eldest person in the extended family who hands on this responsibility to the next generation The updating of one s zupu simplified Chinese 修族谱 traditional Chinese 修族譜 pinyin xiu zupǔ Pe h ōe ji Siu cho k pho is a very important task in Chinese tradition and can be traced back thousands of years After several generations the local clan lineage will often publish a compendium of these zupus The overwhelming majority of zupus remain in private hands though a large number may be found in the Peking University Shanghai Library Cornell University and Tōyō Bunko Chinese lineage associations edit nbsp Cai family ancestral temple in Shantou Guangdong nbsp People forgather for a worship ceremony at an ancestral shrine in Hong an Hubei Chinese lineage associations also kinship or ancestral associations simplified Chinese 宗族社会 traditional Chinese 宗族社會 pinyin zōngzu shehui Pe h ōe ji Chong cho k Sia hōe or simplified Chinese 宗族协会 traditional Chinese 宗族協會 pinyin zōngzu xiehui Pe h ōe ji Chong cho k Hia p hōe are a type of social relationship institutions found in Han Chinese ethnic groups and the fundamental unit of Chinese ancestral religion They gather people who share the same surname belonging to the same kin who often have the same geographical origin ancestral home and therefore the same patron deities They are not seen as distinct from the Chinese kin itself but rather as its corporate form These institutions and their corporeal manifestations are also known as lineage churches or kinship churches Chinese 宗族堂 Pe h ōe ji Chong cho k tong pinyin zōngzu tang or mostly on the scholarly level as Confucian churches 1 although this term has principally other different meanings Chinese kinship associations are the corporate forms of kins and the fundamental unit of Chinese ancestral religion They provide guanxi social network to members and they build and manage ancestral shrines or temples dedicated to the worship of the progenitors of the kins as their congregational centers where they perform rites of unity 2 A lineage is a corporation in the sense that members feel to belong to the same body are highly conscious of their group identity and derive benefits from jointly owned property and shared resources 3 Benefit derives from the surplus income of ancestral shrines and homes which is reinvested by the managers or shared out in yearly dividends 4 Benefit of belonging to a lineage can also be measured in terms of protection and patronage 4 Ancestral temples also support local schools and engage in charitable work 5 Different lineages may develop through the opposite processes of fusion and segmentation 6 They can also be dispersed and fragmented into multi lineage areas or concentrated in one place or single lineage area 6 Ancestral shrine edit nbsp Ge family ancestral shrine in Shantou Guangdong Main article Ancestral shrine Ancestral temples or shrines are the congregation places of lineage associations by whom they are built and managed These temples are devoted to the worship of the progenitors of a certain kin where the kin members meet and perform rites of unity and banquets 2 Variations editConsort kinship edit In Imperial times a consort kin was a kin with special status due to its connection with an emperor Throughout Chinese history consort kins have exercised great power at various times There have been several usurpations of power by consorts the most notable being the Han dynasty s Empress Dowager Lu Chinese 呂后 pinyin Lǚ hou the Tang dynasty s Empress Wu simplified Chinese 武则天 traditional Chinese 武則天 pinyin Wǔ Zetian Pe h ōe ji Bu Chek thian and the Qing dynasty s Empress Dowager Cixi Chinese 慈禧太后 pinyin Cixǐ taihou The Han dynasty usurper Wang Mang was a nephew of the Grand Empress Dowager Wang citation needed Qing period edit During the Qing dynasty the imperial government encouraged Chinese kins to take up some quasi governmental functions such as those involving social welfare and primary education citation needed See also editChinese folk religion Confucianism Chinese ancestral worship Ancestral shrine amp Ancestor tablets Chinese surname Hundred Family Surnames Chinese lineage associations Ancestral home Guanxi Kongsi Xungen movement the contemporary reconstruction of lineages in China Zupu Ethnic interest groupReferences editCitations edit Scholar of Chinese traditional religion Liyong Dai uses the term Confucclesia Confucian church a b Watson 1982 pp 595 597 Watson 1982 p 594 a b Watson 1982 p 600 Watson 1982 pp 601 602 a b Watson 1982 pp 604 609 Sources edit Watson James L December 1982 Chinese Kinship Reconsidered Anthropological Perspectives on Historical Research China Quarterly 92 92 589 622 doi 10 1017 S0305741000000965 JSTOR 653680 S2CID 145418707 Tsai Lily Lee July 2002 Cadres Temple and Lineage Institutions and Government in Rural China The China Journal 48 1 27 doi 10 2307 3182439 JSTOR 3182439 S2CID 147239659 Cohen Myron L August 1990 Lineage Organization in North China The Journal of Asian Studies 49 3 509 534 doi 10 2307 2057769 JSTOR 2057769 S2CID 163489363 External links editGenealogy of clans of the indigenous people of Hong Kong in Chinese Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chinese kin amp oldid 1199700335 Chinese lineage associations, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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