Race, Surname And Territory: A Study Of The Ancient Chinese Family

Yu clan joined the alliance whose leader was Tuoba clan and became one member of it when Yu clan was only a nomadic tribe in Inner-Asia grassland. Since then, the fate of the clan was closely linked with dynasties. According to the earliest words of historical records, we can know that Yu clan served in Northern Wei dynasty from Yu Lidi and was always active in the political stage during the West Wei, East Wei, North Zhou, North Qi, Sui and Tang dynasty.Now there are some studies about Yu clan, and take it account as the individual of Hu Nationality or clans in Northern Wei dynasty so that the study of Yu clan is limited. There are also some studies on Yu clan, however, they are only blunt writings which list the categories of economy, marriage, official career and the common practice, In fact, Yu clan has its particularity as a political power of Hu Nationality in Medieval Times and continued hundred years. But is not enough to observe it just by the method of static study. The try of sorting out the change process in the background of change of political power in Medieval Times, social transformation, interaction of Social Stratum and refining views of race, surname, area associating with other factor such as marriage, official career and the Common Practice to carry out a preliminary study.The first part is mainly about the arrange of Yu clan lineage by the historical records and epitaph. The chapter one is about the source of Yu and confusion use.The chapter two is about Yu clan in period of Pingcheng’s era and before. The chapter three is about Yu clan in period of Luoyang’ era. The chapter four is mainly about Yu clan in period from the Later Stage of the Northern Dynasties to Sui dynasty. Genealogical tables will be listed after every chapter, which are only limited in offshoots of Yu Lidi and Yujin.The second part is divided to two chapters. The first chapter mainly discuss the influence and function of race, surname and area in the change process about Yu clan and the identity change. The second chapter is try to explain the construction phenomenon in historical writing of Yu clan by summing up other offshoots.Summarize the main points of the full text and put forward the view that this paper is only an attempt to observe the the change process in the background of change of political power in Medieval Times, social transformation, interaction of Social Stratum at the end of the article.