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China Compiled Genealogies: Difference between revisions
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[[China]][[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] China Genealogy<br> | [[China]][[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] China Genealogy<br> | ||
In the history of the Chinese people, there are three important elements that are significant. They are China's history, the local gazette, and a clan's genealogy. Among these three elements, genealogy has the longest history and is the most influential. | In the history of the Chinese people, there are three important elements that are significant. They are China's history, the local gazette, and a clan's genealogy. Among these three elements, genealogy has the longest history and is the most influential. | ||
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Clan or lineage genealogies constitute the major source material for Chinese family historians and genealogists. Scholars have shown that clan genealogies can be a valuable source for research into Chinese history. | Clan or lineage genealogies constitute the major source material for Chinese family historians and genealogists. Scholars have shown that clan genealogies can be a valuable source for research into Chinese history. | ||
The size, generational depth, and type of information included in clan genealogies vary a great deal. Most | The size, generational depth, and type of information included in clan genealogies vary a great deal. Most of the genealogies microfiled in various library collections are printed books that average ten volumes per title. However, most of the genealogies collected in special projects from private individuals in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and the Untied States are single volume manuscripts. | ||
''Jia Pu'' (translated as genealogy record), also known as ''Zu Pu'', is a record of a clan's history and lineage. It documents the origins of the surname, the migration patterns of the clan, the family lineage, the ancestral biography, the story of the locality, etc. | ''Jia Pu'' (translated as genealogy record), also known as ''Zu Pu'', is a record of a clan's history and lineage. It documents the origins of the surname, the migration patterns of the clan, the family lineage, the ancestral biography, the story of the locality, etc. | ||
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A ''Jia Pu'' usually begins with the primogenitor that first settled or moved to a place and started his family there, and should end with the contemporary generation that draws up the genealogy. The intermediate ancestors are to be enumerated in between. The primogenitor's sons and descendants compose the first six generations, and are tabulated on one form. The primogenitor's first-born son and subsequent first-born grandsons are listed vertically downwards on the right, while the brothers of the first-born are listed laterally on the left. Descriptions of each generation are confined in relatively narrow, horizontal divisions of the form. These spaces contain additional information, such as the ancestor's name and aliases, dates of birth and death, and official rank. The proceeding generations are recorded in a similar manner. | A ''Jia Pu'' usually begins with the primogenitor that first settled or moved to a place and started his family there, and should end with the contemporary generation that draws up the genealogy. The intermediate ancestors are to be enumerated in between. The primogenitor's sons and descendants compose the first six generations, and are tabulated on one form. The primogenitor's first-born son and subsequent first-born grandsons are listed vertically downwards on the right, while the brothers of the first-born are listed laterally on the left. Descriptions of each generation are confined in relatively narrow, horizontal divisions of the form. These spaces contain additional information, such as the ancestor's name and aliases, dates of birth and death, and official rank. The proceeding generations are recorded in a similar manner. | ||
''Jia Pu'' usually does not have prominent records of the women in the family. This is because in Chinese families greater emphasis is placed on the sons who will carry on the family name. When daughters marry, they are considered a part of their husband's family. Although their names are mentioned in both their family and in-law's ''Jia Pu'', their significance is usually marginalized since they are unlikely to extend the family's lineage. | ''Jia Pu'' usually does not have prominent records of the women in the family. This is because in Chinese families, greater emphasis is placed on the sons, who will carry on the family name. When daughters marry, they are considered a part of their husband's family. Although their names are mentioned in both their family and in-law's ''Jia Pu'', their significance is usually marginalized since they are unlikely to extend the family's lineage. | ||
The objectives of Chinese genealogical research has tremendously changed over time. Researchers are now studying Chinese genealogies as a supplement to other research areas, such as social economic history, geographical history, history of law, population history, religion and culture, history of overseas Chinese, inheritance practices, and biography of historical figures. | The objectives of Chinese genealogical research has tremendously changed over time. Researchers are now studying Chinese genealogies as a supplement to other research areas, such as social economic history, geographical history, history of law, population history, religion and culture, history of overseas Chinese, inheritance practices, and biography of historical figures. | ||
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Wikipedia has a number of very useful articles about Chinese surnames, detailing their origins, histories, and distribution in present-day China and sometimes beyond. You can view this example to see what one of the articles may have in it. | Wikipedia has a number of very useful articles about Chinese surnames, detailing their origins, histories, and distribution in present-day China and sometimes beyond. You can view this example to see what one of the articles may have in it. | ||
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_(surname) | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_(surname) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_(surname)] | ||
Many other pages about Chinese surnames can be found on this category listing page on Wikipedia. | Many other pages about Chinese surnames can be found on this category listing page on Wikipedia. | ||
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese-language_surnames | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese-language_surnames http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese-language_surnames] | ||
Not all the pages have (surname) after them, since it is more obvious that the article is about a surname. There will be no specific genealogical data in these articles, only details of how the surname developed, and other historical matters. | Not all the pages have (surname) after them, since it is more obvious that the article is about a surname. There will be no specific genealogical data in these articles, only details of how the surname developed, and other historical matters. | ||
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To find a page for a surname that for some reason is not listed there, type the URL shown for the Yuan surname as shown above, substituting the surname you wish to see if there is an article about it where you see Yuan in the URL above. If that does not turn up any results that look right, take off the _(surname) part of the URL, and it is possible that it might be found that way. However, it is possible that articles about some surnames are not on Wikipedia yet. | To find a page for a surname that for some reason is not listed there, type the URL shown for the Yuan surname as shown above, substituting the surname you wish to see if there is an article about it where you see Yuan in the URL above. If that does not turn up any results that look right, take off the _(surname) part of the URL, and it is possible that it might be found that way. However, it is possible that articles about some surnames are not on Wikipedia yet. | ||
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[[China, Feng Ping Shan Library Chinese Genealogies (FamilySearch Historical Collections)|China, Feng Ping Shan Library Chinese Genealogies (FamilySearch Historical Collections)]] | [[China, Feng Ping Shan Library Chinese Genealogies (FamilySearch Historical Collections)|China, Feng Ping Shan Library Chinese Genealogies (FamilySearch Historical Collections)]] | ||