Confucius Family Collection (1-8)

Author: Kong Demao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features: The Complete Work of the Confucius Family is a series of books dedicated to the study of the Chinese family—the Confucius family. It is divided into eight volumes: Chronicles of the Family, Lineage of the Family, Family Rules and Etiquette, Excellence of the Family, Cultural Relics and Historical Sites, Interpretation of Poems and Lyrics, Essentials of Family Affairs, and Comprehensive Collection of Classics. The content covers all aspects of the Confucius family, such as the history of its development, the formation and proliferation of its branches, the family's rules, etiquette, and customs, the famous figures who emerged from the family across dynasties, and the contributions of the Confucius family to traditional Chinese culture. It reveals the intrinsic relationship between the Confucius family and the successive dynasties. This book offers a novel perspective and is rich in content, making it almost an encyclopedia of the Confucius family. The Confucius family is one of the longest-lasting families in Chinese history and also one of the most distinguished. However, the Confucius family differs from other families in that its rise and fall are not tied to the rise and fall of dynasties or social changes. Since the birth of Confucius, it has remained active on the stage of Chinese history for over 2,500 years, a feat rarely seen in Chinese history. The Confucius family holds a unique position in Chinese history, primarily due to the support of rulers across dynasties. Since the Western Han Dynasty, the Confucius family has been favored by rulers: Emperor Gaozu of Han personally visited Confucius's hometown, offered a grand sacrifice at the Confucius Temple, and issued an edict requiring all feudal lords and ministers to pay homage to Confucius before assuming office; Emperor Wu of Han further adopted Dong Zhongshu's suggestion to "abandon the Hundred Schools of Thought and uphold Confucianism exclusively," elevating the Confucius family to even greater heights.
In Lineage of the Family, we aim to trace the lineage of a surname and clarify the origins of a clan. Through charts and text, we describe the inheritance of the direct descendants (son line) and collateral descendants (daughter line) of the Confucius family, as well as the relationships between different branches. Additionally, we provide concise introductions to the major and minor heads of the family, their wives, sons, and daughters, which complement Excellence of the Family, making the development of the Confucius family clear to all.
The title Complete Work of the Confucius Family was chosen for two reasons: first, the Confucius family truly originated with Confucius, who holds an irreplaceable position in its history; second, Confucius himself occupies a unique place in the history of Chinese civilization. The term "Complete Work" is relative, as statistics show that the Confucius family has grown to nearly 4 million members. Given such a large population, it is difficult to be exhaustive, leaving no aspect unaddressed. For example, regarding the individuals of the Confucius family, it is impossible to include every single one in the book. Similarly, the classics, poems, and cultural relics associated with the Confucius family cannot all be collected. Instead, we select important, valuable, influential, or positively significant subjects based on established principles for discussion, striving to achieve a sense of completeness.