From a Sacred Space to an “Exhibition Platform”:  The Changes in the Nature of Modern Genealogy

This paper studies the history and development of the three genealogies of the S clan in 1946, 1994, and 2016,
revealing the nature of the genealogy’s transformation from a sacred space to an “exhibition platform.” In traditional rural society, when the reproduction and daily life of the people completely revolve around their clan, the genealogy is regarded as a “sacred and inviolable” item because kinship is greatly valued and genealogy clarifies a person’s ancestry. Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, due to changes in social structure and concepts, the functions of the genealogy gradually disappeared, and the sanctity of family genealogy has also weakened. Nonetheless, middle-aged and elderly individuals are leveraging their economic influence to assume a more significant role within the genealogy, transforming it into a platform for middle-aged and elderly people to showcase their achievements.

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