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Under The Ancestors Shadow: Kinship, Personality & Social Mobility in China
Book by Francis L K Hsu
370 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
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June 21, 2024What a ‘hell of other people’.
I like that this book spend a chapter on the architecture with diagrams, not only I’m beginning to have an idea of what a 四合院 looks like, it’s also synergetic with the thesis; after all, what says about our mindset and environments better than the structures we build.
Recently I had this idea that maybe any large-scale belief or custom that’s been around for a while is invasive and corrupting in nature since the priority of any organisation became to preserve itself once it reaches a certain size. This book definitely adds to my confirmation bias.
Now I’m even more curious about the indigenous hunter gatherer society in ancient Japan, they weren’t keen on procreation at all. Maybe this difference in mindset lies essential in agriculture vs. hunter/gatherer, but there’s only so much a land can produce anyway. They assimilated into what we now know as Japanese centuries ago (partial due to their low birth rate?). Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to come across any literature on this subject.
I know the One Child Policy is atrocious on multiple levels, but it did disrupt patriliny in China to some extend.
I like that this book spend a chapter on the architecture with diagrams, not only I’m beginning to have an idea of what a 四合院 looks like, it’s also synergetic with the thesis; after all, what says about our mindset and environments better than the structures we build.
Recently I had this idea that maybe any large-scale belief or custom that’s been around for a while is invasive and corrupting in nature since the priority of any organisation became to preserve itself once it reaches a certain size. This book definitely adds to my confirmation bias.
Now I’m even more curious about the indigenous hunter gatherer society in ancient Japan, they weren’t keen on procreation at all. Maybe this difference in mindset lies essential in agriculture vs. hunter/gatherer, but there’s only so much a land can produce anyway. They assimilated into what we now know as Japanese centuries ago (partial due to their low birth rate?). Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to come across any literature on this subject.
I know the One Child Policy is atrocious on multiple levels, but it did disrupt patriliny in China to some extend.
January 21, 2026
very interesting
August 9, 2024
1. 家族与亲属制度:
- 许烺光先生通过田野调查，记录了西镇社区内的亲属关系和家族运作模式。家族的宗祠、祖坟等构成了家族制度的核心，显示出祖先崇拜和家族权威对当地社会的深远影响。
- 家族中的个人价值、权利与义务不仅与生者相关，也与已故的祖先紧密联系，形成了“祖荫下”的生活形态。
2. 权威与竞争:
- 作者指出，中国文化对人格形成的主要影响因素是权威与竞争。权威源于家族长辈的支配地位，而竞争则体现在家族成员内部的资源争夺。
- 权威体现在父子同一的关系中，父亲对儿子的供养不仅是应尽义务，也是对家族的延续责任；儿子则承担继承祖业、繁衍后代的任务。这种相互作用构成了家族内部的重要纽带。这种几代人之间的教育过程不可避免地造成富家子弟依旧富裕，穷人之后依然贫穷的结果。
3. 人格的形成与社会结构:
- 文化对人格的影响贯穿一生，社会中的权威与竞争塑造了不同的个性结构：富裕阶层的子弟往往表现出虚荣、奢侈等特点；而贫困家庭的孩子则倾向于勤俭、现实和谦恭。
- 这种人格的差异直接导致了“富不过三代”“穷人翻身”的社会现象，表明不同家庭背景对个体的长期影响。
4. 社区与更广阔的中国:
- 书中以西镇为例，展现了社区研究如何帮助理解整个中国的社会结构。虽然西镇具有独特的文化和家族制度，但许烺光也指出了其与中国其他地区之间的差异。
- 社区研究不仅揭示了中国传统社会中的亲属关系，也为更广泛的社会分析提供了理论依据。
- 许烺光先生通过田野调查，记录了西镇社区内的亲属关系和家族运作模式。家族的宗祠、祖坟等构成了家族制度的核心，显示出祖先崇拜和家族权威对当地社会的深远影响。
- 家族中的个人价值、权利与义务不仅与生者相关，也与已故的祖先紧密联系，形成了“祖荫下”的生活形态。
2. 权威与竞争:
- 作者指出，中国文化对人格形成的主要影响因素是权威与竞争。权威源于家族长辈的支配地位，而竞争则体现在家族成员内部的资源争夺。
- 权威体现在父子同一的关系中，父亲对儿子的供养不仅是应尽义务，也是对家族的延续责任；儿子则承担继承祖业、繁衍后代的任务。这种相互作用构成了家族内部的重要纽带。这种几代人之间的教育过程不可避免地造成富家子弟依旧富裕，穷人之后依然贫穷的结果。
3. 人格的形成与社会结构:
- 文化对人格的影响贯穿一生，社会中的权威与竞争塑造了不同的个性结构：富裕阶层的子弟往往表现出虚荣、奢侈等特点；而贫困家庭的孩子则倾向于勤俭、现实和谦恭。
- 这种人格的差异直接导致了“富不过三代”“穷人翻身”的社会现象，表明不同家庭背景对个体的长期影响。
4. 社区与更广阔的中国:
- 书中以西镇为例，展现了社区研究如何帮助理解整个中国的社会结构。虽然西镇具有独特的文化和家族制度，但许烺光也指出了其与中国其他地区之间的差异。
- 社区研究不仅揭示了中国传统社会中的亲属关系，也为更广泛的社会分析提供了理论依据。
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May 1, 2009Under the Ancestors' Shadow by Francis L. K. Hsu (1967)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews