Identity In Chinese Lineage Organizations In Modern Society

This paper studies Chinese lineage in modern society from the perspective of identity, taking a recently rebuilt Chinese lineage organization in Guangxi as an example. The article mainly suggests that consanguinity and region are the key accordance of lineage identity, and they are mingled in lineage identity. Consanguinity is not necessarily authentic or near in lineage identity, it is constructed and, based on the same surname marker. Natural geographic region and national administrative zone both have influence on lineage identity and its boundary. The psychological foundation of lineage identity is ubiquitous in China; however, it is only latent or implicit emotion many a times. When stimulated by externalities, people will become aware of lineage and establish their senses of belonging and identity, which will finally be represented in supporting discourses and actions for lineage activities. Lineage identity is multi-folded and superposable; individuals can have more than one lineage identities and belong to more than one lineage organizations. This multiple lineage identity affects the flow and distribution among different lineage branches and different lineage organizations and, further influences the relationships between them.