The genealogy dating back to the earliest generation is oral genealogy. According to the data, the original function of genealogy is to distinguish relatives and friends, unite ethnic groups and optimize fertility, which is called "kissing". From then on, everything can not be separated from its two basic functions of "separation" and "gathering", but with the passage of time, different social systems have different specific connotations and functions. Its development is also based on the political system of historical dynasties. Now follow Bian Xiao to learn the origin of genealogy.
The development of genealogy and the evolution of its functions can be roughly divided into Zhou Dynasty, Han Dynasty, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties and after the Five Dynasties.
Zhou dynasty
The patriarchal clan system in the Zhou Dynasty was influenced by the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Wars, especially after the Qin King swept Liuhe, the clan organization changed from prosperity to decline, from destruction to reconstruction, to the clan and clan in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The Zhou Dynasty was a patriarchal feudal system. It turns out that "clan" is just a group with blood relationship, and there is no distinction between superiors and subordinates. However, when it entered the class society, there appeared a "clan", that is, among relatives, one person was the main one, and the owner enjoyed honor and privilege, and the clan inherited it after death. In this way, the function of genealogy "don't be intimate, be clear about the system" has penetrated into the class struggle of subordinate relationship, and its function is also the content of serving patriarchal feudal politics.
"Those who distinguish Zhao Mu, the emperor has his own relatives and friends in the Book of the World, so it is necessary to distinguish between the clouds." It can be seen that the genealogy of the Zhou Dynasty, such as Shiben, belongs to the Zhou family headed by Zhou, and its clear lineage is the royal lineage of the Zhou clan; Distinguishing intimacy from distance is intimacy of respect and inferiority. Therefore, the genealogy of the Zhou Dynasty is entirely to promote patriarchal clan system and consolidate the rule of the Zhou Dynasty.
Han Dynasty
In the Han Dynasty, clan landlords dominated, "sealing officials with virtue and sealing nobles with meritorious service", and the monarchy system and patriarchal clan system began to separate. Therefore, the function of genealogy in Han Dynasty is to serve the restoration and reconstruction of clan and the formation and consolidation of clan rule.
Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties
During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the gentry politics was practiced, and Wei Li was upright in nine categories. "There is no poverty in the top grade, and there is no right in the bottom grade." The selection of officials and voters, marriage and marriage, and the distinction between scholars and Shu Ren are strict. "The selection of officials must be in the form of books; Family marriage must be based on genealogy, so the genealogy of maintaining the gate system is particularly prosperous.
At this time, genealogy became the basis of government election, official career and family marriage, and also became a tool of political service for the gentry. It is precisely because genealogy plays such an important role in people's social status, development prospects and social level that counterfeiting is also rampant, which is also the result of interest-driven.
After five generations
Due to frequent wars in the north, a large number of people in the Central Plains moved south, and the economic center moved south. Especially in the Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties, the development of commodity currency economy, the prosperity of urban commerce and the emergence of business gangs promoted the further decentralization of social power and the development of aristocratic clans to civilian clans. After the Five Dynasties, genealogy lost its political function in the past, and it was also edited by the government instead of the people. Its content was more extensive and rich, and its function developed from political function to social function.
Specifically, private genealogy plays a role in tracing back to the source, uniting the clan, maintaining and strengthening the clan by showing the original surname, the origin of migration and the origin of lineage. Especially in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the role of genealogy has risen to the binding force of standardizing national codes of conduct, and its surname culture has also been vigorously developed, providing a large number of folk historical materials for historians to study history.
In a word, genealogy has a long history in China. In the long history, a genealogical culture with unique connotation and national feelings has been formed. There is no doubt about its cultural value as a textual research material for historians to explore real history. Its emergence and development are related to clan, clan, family and other social groups. Its function changes with the change of social structure and social system, from social function to political function and back to social function. Since the writing genealogy came into being, the general development trend is from aristocrats to gentry to civilians, and the people who maintain and unite are getting wider and wider. It explains, reflects and confirms the historical process of the Chinese nation from the perspective of family history, and plays a great role in promoting national culture, loving the motherland, enhancing national cohesion, and studying sociology, demography, ethnology, history and other disciplines today.