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These editorial rules for the recompilation of the genealogy in 1947 also give an account of the many lost editions of the genealogy.
Rules in Compiling the Genealogy of 1947
Previously the genealogy mistakenly left out the generation of Junior Ancestor the 2nd. If we add it now it will not agree with the Grand Synthesis Genealogy, and we will lose credibility with other branches and lineages. I am explaining this to avoid controversy.
- In the genealogy, in the case of those with the same personal name who have been registered with the prefectural school and have been reported to the Ministry of Rites, we have changed the name of the later rather than the earlier persons.
- In general we have not included those with different surname who were adopted [into our lineage] or nephews who were adopted [by a household] to continue the ancestral sacrifices [in the patriline].
- Women in our lineage of noble character and incorruptible principles who have vowed to be chaste are necessarily recorded.
- Those in the lineage who, being born in a prosperous age, have on account of reaching a high age been graced with grants of honorable titles are all recorded, both males and females.
- Those women, although they lost their husbands after reaching thirty, are recorded, if they were models of restraints and uprightness, and have taught their sons and arranged their marriages.
- As for those ancestors who have been praised by their elders, we include a quote under their names to add luster to the genealogy.
- We have for the moment dropped the encomiums on the portraits in earlier editions.
- The descendants of our lineage are numerous; the good and bad ones are intermixed. We only record good deeds, not the bad, following the ancient principle of hiding bad deeds and praising virtues. Our descendants should not criticize us for only knowing how to praise the good and not how to despise the bad.
- In compiling the genealogy this year, we have not recorded those lines which have moved to other places, such as Baikang, Changxi, and Houjiang, from the moment of division onwards because they have compiled their own genealogies. Later, if there are those who can trace their ancestry [back to us] and wish to compile a joint genealogy [with us] it will be allowed.
- Every sub-branch gets a certain character as an identifier. This is clearly noted in the genealogy. If there are any mistakes, [loss of text] from mildew or book worms, or borrowing for private copying that is done for fraudulent purposes, then the community should decide on a penalty.
- The households which store the genealogies are to agree to collect all the genealogies and bring them to the ancestral hall for checking every year on the third day of the first month.
- There were two copies of the Grand Synthesis Genealogy compiled in the sixth year of the Jiajing reign (1527), four volumes each. Sanlin’s household kept one copy, but it was lost in the Hong and Yang wars (1851-1864, see the note below). Jingshu’s household still has one copy. To it is appended a line chart of those left out in earlier editions. It is now kept in Wenqing’s household.
- In the gengshen year (1740), the 5th year of the Qianlong reign period of the former Qing dynasty, we had compiled a joint genealogy with Baikang branch in eight volumes and made six copies. Today only one copy is extant, but the first volume was lost in the Hong and Yang wars so that only seven volumes are extant. To it is appended a large line chart of those left out in earlier editions. It is stored in Cangken’s household.
- In the jiyou year (1789), the fifty-fourth year of the Qianlong reign period, we had updated the genealogy and made five copies, three volumes each. None survive.
- In the jiashen year (1824), the fourth of the Daoguang reign period, we had updated the genealogy in five volumes and made five copies. None survive.
- In the bingwu year (1846), the twenty-sixth year of the Daoguang reign period, we had updated the genealogy in five volumes and made six copies. One copy is extant today, with appended notes, maps of the tombs, printing blocks, and the plate of genealogy. It is stored in Zeyao’s household.
- In the renchen year (1892), the eighteenth of the Guangxu reign period, we had updated the genealogy in five volumes and made seven copies. None survive.
- In the wuwu year (1918), the seventh of the Republican era, we had updated the genealogy in seven volumes and made seven copies. None survive.
- In the dinghai year (1947), the thirty-sixth year of the Republican era, we have now updated the genealogy in eight volumes and made seven copies, including new and old editions. We have used the characters as Qian, Kun, Gen, Xun, Ri, Yue, and Xing as the identifiers of the copies.
- Qian copy Xiamen branch Kept by Genquan
- Kun copy Zhongmen branch Kept by Panyuan
- Gen copy Mamu branch Kept by Langui
- Xun copy Qianmen branch Kept by Muting
- Ri cocy Qianmen branch Kept by Wenqing
- Yue copy Qianmen branch Kept by Zeyao
- Xing Copy Qianmen branch Kept by Shougen
(from Zhiyan cun Chen shi zongpu 1996 ed. p. 56)
The Hong and Yang wars (1851-1864) refers to the rebellion of the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace led by Hong Xiuquan (1814-1864) and Yang Xiuqing (1820-1856). In the 19th century, social injustice, a decline in administration, the loss of bureaucratic morale, soaring population growth, and massive internal migration led to a series of crises. Hong Xiuquan took the civil examinations in Canton four times but failed all, leaving him exhausted and deeply depressed. Hong was then inspired by a Christian missionary book and saw his task as the conversion of the Chinese people to Christianity. He formed the “God-Worshipping Society” in Guangxi province in 1843. In 1851, Hong and his followers established the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace in Guangxi and claimed dominion over all the empire. They propagated a utopian social program, advocating communal property. They soon spread through most of southern China, including Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsi, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu, leaving a trail of captured and looted cities behind them, and established their capital in Nanjing. The rebellion was finally defeated by the Qing in 1864. For a more detailed account, see Philp Kuhn, “The Taiping Rebellion,” in The Cambridge History of China, v.10, pp.264-317.
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