Word generation should be said to be an indispensable part of a complete family tree, which is the imprint of a family. In fact, word generation is a relatively random literary form, and its randomness is reflected in the fact that although it has a certain format, it does not pay attention to strict rhyming like metrical poems, and it does not have to apply the existing brand names like lyrics. Through word generation, two people who don't know can be United together, which can make strangers feel sudden intimacy. It can enhance the cohesion among various groups. As a part of surname culture, word generation should be well inherited and carried forward.
the use of word generation is particularly important for a large family, especially a lasting family like Confucius, which has lasted for dozens of generations and multiplied hundreds of thousands. Because of this function of the word generation, it can be used for reference by other groups that need to be distinguished, such as religious sects, social gangs, Wulin Sect and so on. In this way, the word generation, which was originally purely used within the family, has a wider scope of application.
in the Han dynasty, even in the pre-Qin period, there were some seeds or signs that reflected the peer relationship in the use of names and characters, such as choosing * * * to use the same characters or reflecting them in the radicals. However, this is only the bud. It is still a long way from using the homonym of * * * consciously to distinguish generations, and then pre-selecting a certain number of "auspicious words" with certain significance as a prescriptive word generation that future generations must abide by when naming.
In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, there was a phenomenon that people of the same generation used * * * in naming names. The real word generation began in the Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, genealogy has entered thousands of households from the royal palace, which is very popular, and almost every household has genealogy. In class society, word generation is the same as genealogy, which was first advocated by the royal family and then extended to the people. Due to the influence of Confucius' thought and theory, it was valued and knighted by the royal emperors, so the characters in Confucius' genealogy were given by the emperor.
The genealogy, also known as Pai Yu, Pai Xing Poem, Pai Di, Pai Yin, Pai Xing, etc., is dedicated to publishing the words of the names of members in the family. In order to reflect the clan relationship, people of the same generation in the family usually need to find a * * * homonym when naming. The homonyms of different generations are arranged to form the word generation used by this family to indicate the lineage. The formation of word generation is to distinguish between seniority and seniority. Here, the pecking order does not mean the pecking order in political position, but the seniority within the family.
The word generations in the genealogy are very particular in both content and form, and they are not randomly selected. The word generation spectrum has several characteristics.
seriousness
first, seriousness. In ancient times, there was a saying that "the name is justified", and the name is not correct and the words are not smooth. Naming is a very serious matter. And the word generation is not only named, but also passed down from generation to generation and followed. For example, Confucius' house is very strict with the word generation spectrum, and it is expressly stipulated that compiling the word generation spectrum by itself requires the approval of the official. All ethnic groups must be named according to their word generation, and those who do not follow the world order and name at will are not allowed to enter the spectrum. In the Republic of China, Ma Jia's Genealogy was revised, and a note was added at the end of the word generation: "... all my descendants, one generation uses words to record, men and women are the same, and they abide by the arrangement ... and shall not be arbitrarily changed to avoid confusion."
Ideological
Genealogy International believes that the words used by ordinary generations all contain the ideological connotation of auspiciousness, auspicious celebration, peace, well-being, prosperity, peace and happiness, which reflects the family's certain value orientation, social responsibility and ardent hope for future generations. Because of different times, genealogy reflects the thoughts and ethics of different times.
in the feudal era, the ideological content of loyalty, filial piety, loyalty to the monarch and filial piety, and glory to the ancestors was spread in the word spectrum. For example, some genealogies include: "Faithfulness has been handed down for a long time, filial piety has spread everywhere, festivals are all my own, and righteous words are handed down from generation to generation"; "Guang Chang Xing Zong De, precious ancient spread"; "Shaoting is the country's Rui, and the glory vibrates the family"; "Worship the ancestors in the world, establish the foundation of loyalty and faith, and win the victory with benevolence and righteousness" and so on.
in the new period of socialism, the genealogy of the family tree reflects new ideas and new connotations. For example, in 1998, a new 4-word genealogy was put forward in the Xu Family Tree of Sichuan-Chongqing Lianzong: "Hua Guangpu lighting, the East China Sea reflects peace, Mao Zhize has a long way to go, the civil and military show Longting, the prosperity of the whole family increases, Jiaxing is stimulated by science, and the talents are nurtured, and the generations are honored."
regionality
Some word generation spectra not only have the general characteristics of word generation spectra, but also reflect the regional characteristics. Zhang Zhongying and Zhang Ruyi put forward some word generations of Sichuan families with typical regional characteristics in the article "Review of the Class Generation of Sichuan Family Names". For example, choose water and soil as the word, "Muhaoze Spring flows into the river and the river flows through the river, and it is clear and irrigated", "The altar and dike are harmonious, Pokun Qiutan, crucible and battlements are built, and the base is built firmly."
artistry
Poetry is one of the basic genres of literature and art, and it is also the oldest art.. It can reflect life and express thoughts and feelings with very few words, the most concise brushwork and white-hot emotions. Metric poetry is a common form of poetry in ancient times. Most of them are five-character poems and seven-character poems. Because most genealogies are written by talented celebrities, the characters in genealogy often adopt the form of metrical poems when writing. Most of them are five-character poems, but there are also four-character poems and seven-character poems. This reflects the artistry of the word generation spectrum.
The word generation spectrum of the five-character poem, such as "Shaoshan Mao Shi Genealogy", is as follows: "Li Xianrong is a scholar, Wen Fang yun Ji Xiang, Zu En yi Ze Yun, generations are forever Chengchang, filial piety is a family heirloom, loyalty is good for the country, Yuan Dun is a sage, and elegance is a clear chapter." Mao Zedong is the 14th generation of Ze, and his father Mao Yichang is the 13th generation of Yi. Grandfather Mao Sipu is the 12th generation of "En".
Privacy
A genealogy is compiled by the patriarch or a respected member of the clan. After the completion, it is generally compiled with a distribution number and distributed to the people, and it is not publicly published. At most, it is given to the national library collection. This is private in itself, and the word generation spectrum is only a sign of identifying generations within the family, and it is even more secret. When the genealogy is compiled and distributed, it is generally necessary to publicly declare the word generation of the genealogy to the people and keep it secret.