出世和入世:论家族和宗族的概念

Other-Worldliness and Present-Worldliness——A Brief Comment on the Connotations of Family and Clan

中国的家族和宗族是人类学经典研究对象,家族的重心在于,族人共享血缘及亲属伦理观念,它是出世的;而宗族的核心在于其组织性,这种组织性体现在对国家意志的贯彻和对宗族成员的管理和资源融会上,其物质载体宗祠、族田、族谱等实体都是组织和管理家族的途径,相比之下,它是入世的。

In Chinese anthropology, family and clan are considered as the two classic objects of studies. While the former lays stress on the ethic concept of family members＂ sharing bloodlines and relatives that serve as other-worldliness, the latter attaches an importance to the organization, which is embodied in the implement of national spirits, and in the management and resources melting of clan members. Since the substantial carriers of the clan, such as ancestral temples, ethnic fields and genealogical trees, are all approaches to the organization and management, it is, comparatively, of present-worldliness.