宗族建构过程中的血缘与世系

Blood Ties and Descent in Lineage Construction

宗族是一个"建构"过程,其客观依据、基本逻辑、核心理念及价值标准,是建立并维系一条完整悠久的父系单系世系,而不是、也不可能形成所谓"纯洁"的父系血缘。以《尔雅》、《仪礼》为代表的经典文献,表明了古代上层学者对宗族建构特征的深刻理解,展现了宗族建构的方向与具体步骤,民间宗族活动则从实践层面反映了大致相同的过程。明确"血缘"与"世系"的区别,强调世系原则在宗族建构过程中的基础地位,对改善宗族研究的理论范式,提高宗族研究的专业水准,具有实质性的意义。

The 'lineage' is a process of 'construction.' Its objective foundation, basic logic, core ideas and value criteria all aim at building and maintaining a single comprehensive and enduring patrilineal line of descent. It does not and cannot constitute a so-called 'pure' patrilineal line. The classical literature represented by Er ya (尔雅) and Rites and ceremonies (仪礼) show that in ancient times scholars from the upper social strata had a profound understanding of the distinctive features of lineage building. They indicate the direction and specific steps of lineage building, while lineage group activities among ordinary people reflect more or less the same process at the level of practice. To clarify the distinction between 'blood ties' and 'descent' and stress the essential role of the principle of descent in the process of lineage building is of substantive significance for developing better theoretical paradigms and setting a higher standard of professionalism for research on the lineage.