The Reconfiguration Of Village Life And Family Traditions

"Yi" is a rare surname in China. People surnamed Yi mainly exist in the Jiaodong area especially in Qixia. People surnamed " Yi" in other region had mostly moved away from Qixia. The object of study in this thesis is Yi's clan in Xiaoyaogezhuang Village located on the border of Qixia and Laiyang.Xiaoyaogezhuang Village is located in the north part of Lai Yang City. According to the survey in 2007, there are 1084 villagers and 342 families here." Yi" and "Luo" are two main surnames in the village and Yi accounts for 85 percent. Xiaoyaogezhuang Village covers an area of more than 1,000 mus among which there are about 800 mus of apple orchard and the annual output is more than 1,500,000 kilograms. A villager's income is about 5000 Yuan each year . The economic situation of the village and the earnings of the farmers are at a medium level. More than 300 years ago, Yidonghai migrated from Huaishudi Village in Qixia. The village was named "Xiaotaizi" at first and then renamed "Xiaoyaogezhuang". Yidonghai's sons divided into twobranches--"east" and "west", and took the river in village as their boundary.Hundreds of years later, the west held more people from which separated a north branch. The three branches used to have their own temples, but later were demolished. As the temples disappeared, the sacrifice was abrogated. The Yi's clan in Xiaoyaogezhuang Village has a family tree which was written in 1938. Due to the lack of ability, the sequel to the family tree hasn't been done ever since. The relation between Yi and Luo seems harmonious, but very nervous actually. In daily life, disregarding sex, both son and daughter who married must support the parents. As a result, people's reproductive concept changes. While the son is of great significance to the continuity of clan, young people are no longer in pursuit of this. In the elections, clan forces are not the only power. Amphictyony and faction also play an important role. For the Yi's clan in Xiaoyaogezhuang Village, the festival and the ceremony in life reinforce the relationship between the clansmen.The Yi's clan who settle in the Xiaoyaogezhuang Village live a calm life. Since the advent of Yifuen in 1998, the changes have happened. From then on, the government and the researchers attach great importance to the village and bring about unprecedented opportunities. Meanwhile, with villagers' thought changing gradually, a sense of clan springs up. Besides Yidonghai, Yifuen becomes one of the most influential people in the history of the village. "The Butterfly Effect" which was aroused by Yifuen is emerging.Through the methods of referring to documents, observing and interviewing, I try to describe the development and customs of the Yi's clan, and reveal that how the emergence of such a key figure broke the original balance of the system and bred a new system with adjustment.