Resource-sharing and genealogical research on Islamic Chinese names in Guilin

Authors

Sheau-yueh J. Chao, CUNY Bernard M. Baruch CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

Jiapu家譜, the Chinese Family Register, has been used for thousands of years to trace the genealogical history of a clan and lineage, including a family’s origin, its collateral lines, the migration history of the clan, names and ages of the members, records of marriages, births and deaths, merits and deeds, ancestral biography and ancestral locality. This paper examines the historical evolution and value of Chinese genealogical records with the focus on researching the Islamic Chinese names found in Jiapu and used by the people living in Guilin, Guangxi Province. It provides the historical background of genealogical records and analyzes the value of Chinese genealogical research through the study of names and genealogical resources. The paper highlights the analysis and evolution of the Islamic Chinese names commonly adopted by the local people in Guilin. It concludes with the recommendations on emphasizing and making the best use of genealogical records to enhance the research value of Chinese overseas studies through resource-sharing and collaboration with libraries, museums, and institutions, locally, regionally, and internationally.

Comments

This work was originallypublished in Collection Building, available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/CB:03-201.