Abstract

Info

Title:: From generation to generation: blood and non-blood tradition in ancester worship and Confucius commemoration

Author(s):: LI Ji-xiang; School of Humanities, Foguang University, Yilan 27262, Taiwan, China

Keywords:: blood; non-blood; ancestor worship; Confucius commemoration; Confucian temple; ancestral temple; national decree and regulation

Abstract:: One of the most important transmissions in Chinese tradition is blood transmission. The Dao of heaven and earth originated from the couple, which is what we call Yin and Yang. Since Yin and Zhou dynasties, blood transmission formed the patriarchal system. The gens, the clan, the ancestral temple, the ancestral shrine and the imperial ancestral temple have been all transmitted through blood. This is the principle clue for the long history of Chinese culture. Another principle clue had formed later since Confucius. Confucius had been honored as Su Wang, Xuanni Gong, Wenxuan Wang, Ni Fu, Great and holy, an exemplary model teacher. No matter what he was honored, the essence of Chinese culture was passed down by him through his teaching after Zhou Dao declined, which started the Chinese tradition of non-blood transmission. The transmission between the teachers and students is a non-blood transmission, which is a unique feature and structure in Chinese culture and spirit. Without this teaching and learning between the teachers and students, Chinese culture will not be of such a long history. The transmission between ancestors and descendants is a blood transmission while culture transmission is between the teachers and students which is a non-blood transmission.