Preface to the Joint Genealogy of Baikang in Fenshui and Zhixi in Jiande (in 1596) (Text)

Preface to the Joint Genealogy of Baikang in Fenshui and Zhixi in Jiande (in 1596)

Probably in the 12^th century the Chens here divided into two branches, the Zhiyan (or Zhixi) Chens and the Baikang Chens. Here it states that the Baikang Chens created a joint genealogy with the Zhiyan branch. However, the Postscript to the Updated Genealogy of Zhixi (dated 1824) denies that the join succeeded and states that the Zhiyan branch had rejected Baikang’s overtures.  The author of this preface seems to have been more interested in the Grand Synthesis Genealogy of 1540 than Baikang work, perhaps because the Grand Synthesis Genealogy included many famous Chen through history.

Preface to the Joint Genealogy of Baikang in Fenshui and Zhixi in Jiande (dated 1596)

I was appointed by the emperor to govern this district in the yiwei year (1596). As soon as I arrived, those with official rank, the National University students, and the prefectural school students came to greet me in the office courtyard. Among them were fifty to sixty from the Chen clan. Their clothes and caps were dignified. I admired them in my heart: they are indeed of an eminent lineage! However, because I had just arrived at this place, I had not had time to learn about their origin and history. A year later, the prefectural school student Chen Chao, together with his lineage members, brought the Grand Synthesis Genealogy. Bowing, he requested: “Former Confucians always said descendants who did not compile a genealogy in three generations were unfilial, because they would not know where the ancestors came from and when the branches divided.

The ancestor of the Chen lineage originated from the first enfeoffment of Man, the Duke of Hu. From the sage kings Shun and Yu to the Song and Yuan dynasties the descendants multiplied; their deeds can be verified with the documents. There is no need to debate this. In the reign of Jiajing (1522-1566) of this Dynasty, the Qi Prefecture School student Chen Jian traveled over the whole world, and investigated the origins of the lineages in every detail. After fifteen years, the Grand Synthesis Genealogy was finished. Later, as the lineages grew, there were cases of the order of generations becoming obscured, and failures to distinguish degrees of kinship. Genealogical studies were being neglected. Chao was suddenly moved to follow the example of Chen Jian, the student in Qi, and updated the genealogy. He wanted to begin with the branches that were close and easily verified and make a combined genealogy.

Dajing, the 16^th-generation descendant of Shuxian, the Prince of Henan, served Emperor Gaozong of the Song when the dynasty moved south (in 1127); he was appointed Prefect of Muzhou, and settled there. His eldest son, Zhan, moved to Baikang in Fenshui county, and the second son, Di, moved to Zhixi in Jiande county. These two branches have gone on for only ten or so generations, therefore they are still close. Furthermore, both are in counties in Mu Prefecture, and they are less than two hundred li apart. They often socialize with each other, and the descendants often meet. Therefore [their histories] are easily verified. The Baikang genealogy has already been finished. He has used this and combined it with the Zhixi genealogy. Unless one updates the genealogies by combining them, even the closest relatives will become strangers, as if one was living in the north and the other living in the south. If even the Chens settled in these two places are like this, what must be it be like for all the Chens under heaven. Surely this would cause the ancestors sorrow. How then could one speak of filial piety? With the help of Zongsheng, Tongmo, Biaoxian, and Wang Daoyi, Chao has finished combining the genealogies and updated them. They sincerely asked me for this preface. It is because I, although incapable, am in charge of the customs and cultivation that they want a word from me to commemorate this event.

Deeply moved, I took the genealogy and read it over and again. Thus I said to student Chao: “The genealogy of your Chen lineage has a preface by Mr. Wang, Duke of Xinjian, prefaces from the present by Historian Mr. Tao and the former Prefect of He Mr. Wu. Their essays that trace the depth of the achievements of the ancestors and describe how they maintained cordial relations within the lineage and harmony among the relatives in order to propagate the Chen lineage are grand and eloquent, detailed and excellent. What else can I add? What else can I add? If I really have to say something, then perhaps it will be adequate to address the meaning of the genealogy in antiquity, thus to impress it in the memory of the Chen lineage. On reading the Grand Synthesis Genealogy, I found that it would always record those who devoted themselves with all their heart and died for the ruler, wanting to move the later generations to think about loyalty; it would always record those who devoted all the efforts to serving their parents, wanting to move the later generations to think about filial piety; it would always record those who donated money to help those in need, wanting to move the later generations to think about benevolence; it would always record those who did not take profit without principles, wanting to move the later generations to think about uprightness; it would always record those who did not evade disasters without principles, wanting to move the later generations to think about moral principles. To make later generations think about frugality, it would always record those who were content with the tranquil life; to make later generations think about diligence, it would always record those who were able at managing property; to make the later generations think about adhering to principles, it would always record those who wandered and lived in the outside of the court. As for those who transgressed against human norms and standards, the powerful who mistreated the weak, the wealthy who bullied the poor, the eminent who despised the humble, the smart who teased the stupid, the high who oppressed the low, and the younger who offended the older, all who behaved thus are not recorded. Why? This is the genealogists’ principle of hiding bad deeds, in the hope that descendants will reflect on themselves. You, the Chen descendants, since the time of the genealogy was updated, have encouraged each other and socialized with each other. When there is a happy occasion, you go and celebrate; when there is a sad event, you go and condole; when someone gets sick, you go and pray for them; when there is a disaster, you go and help; when someone is in need, you go and relieve them; when meeting on the road, you bow and give way [to each other] to express cordiality, just as the love between the Chen brothers Zhan and Di in antiquity. This is not only being filial to and honoring the ancients, but is also a grand affair! Surely you gentlemen are not updating this genealogy merely to boast of your lineage and show off. And this is certainly not why I am happy to write this preface! Although I have never ascended to the hall of Zhixi and met the descendants, I have studied the ancient worthies in the Grand Synthesis Genealogy, and found a Gentleman for Meritorious Achievement of the Song such as Mr. Zeng the 22^nd; I have found one who was smart and reliable and served as a prefect such as Mr. Siyuan; I have found some who were given official titles because of their longevity such as Mr. Ren the 48^th, Mr. Ren the 63^rd, and Mr. Yi the 75^th.  They were all outstanding figures and refined gentlemen. The elders were like this, so too the younger worthies. Cultivated gentlemen have risen one after the other, I think they must be of the same quality as the descendants of Baikang. When updating the genealogies, how could they not combine [the two lineages]? Therefore, not fearing the ridicule of the uncultivated, I proclaim Mr. Chao’s filial piety.

            The guqie day of the middle of the spring of the year bingshen (1596), the twenty-fourth year of the reign Wanli,

            Written by Magistrate of Fenshui County, Ni Fuying from Yunjian.

(from Zhiyan cun Chen shi zongpu 1996 ed.)