弗里德曼为什么只重视中国宗族的功能而忽略系谱——兼论作为一种福利制度的中国宗族

Why Does Maurice Freedman Attach Importance to the Chinese Lineage's Function Only and Neglect Its Pedigree

英国人类学家弗里德曼把中国宗族看成一个控财单位而不是一个系谱单位,引发了海内外中国研究领域中持续半个多世纪的争论。弗里德曼之所以重视中国宗族的功能因素而忽略系谱,除了秉承非洲世系群研究中的corporation概念外,一是他要面对二战后英国的福利问题,所以他按照西方人类学惯例做了跨文化研究为自身社会提供智慧;二是他想与非洲世系群特征相区分,因为强调世系不容易把中国宗族与非洲世系群区别开来;三是有中国社会思想史和中国人民实践经验的支撑;四是通过中国宗族集体主义的经济生产方式和消费理念以批判西方个体主义,并达成对西方搭建在个体主义基础上的社会运转机制的反思。弗里德曼从福利学的角度解读中国宗族的这一纬度应该引起学界高度重视,对中国当下福利制度忽略了本土资源有重要提醒作用。

As an English anthropologist, Manrice Freedman viewed Chinese lineage as a corporation group, not a genealogy unit. This viewpoint has initiated a dispute in abroad Chinese research and native Chinese study since 1960＇s. Why did Maurice Freedman important the function of Chinese lineage and neglect its genealogy？ First, for solving the social welfare confronted by Britain after World War Ⅱ, he unfolded this study according to the convention of across culture research in the west anthropology＇, so that he can provide his society with the wisdom from China. Second, he wanted to make a distinction between Chinese lineage and African lineage. If he emphasized the importance of pedigree, it was not easy to distinguish Chinese lineage from African lineage. The former is often overlooked by anthropologists and historians.