——【Preface】—
Whether ancient or modern, kinship is an integral part of social life. However, did you know that in traditional Chinese culture, there is a kind of called:"Five suits"which is considered the criterion for determining whether a person is a relative?
From ancient times to the present, this rule has been strictly adhered to and has a profound impact on people's daily life and social interactions. Next, we will explore the mysteries of Wufu culture together, and understand its origin, meaning, and cultural values behind it.
Whether you're interested in Chinese history and culture or looking to better understand the influence of Chinese culture, this article will provide you with valuable insight. Let's unveil the mystery of the five costumes together!
——[The historical origin of the five-service system·].
Ancient China had a long history of the five-costume system, which was originally created to serve the imperial power and the hierarchy between families. Later, with the changes of the times and the progress of society, the five-service system gradually evolved into an important tool to describe the intimate relationship between relatives today.
During the Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Tianzi set a set of service system with 500 li as the unit, forming five major areas of "Dianfu, Houfu, Suifu, Yaofu and Desert Fu".
They are the land around Wanggi and the area serving the royal family, the vassal fiefs and the land serving the border provinces, the vassal states and districts, and the area furthest from the center. The original meaning of Wufu was a classification of the class names of the five levels, rather than a geographical scope.
In the social structure of the time, wealth was often concentrated in the hands of men, and women would usually marry others as sacrifices, so the five costumes were mainly based on the hierarchical distribution of male relatives.
Through the arrangement according to the patrilineal system, a close connection within the patrilineal circle of relatives has been formed, so that the traditional Chinese culture can be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
Over time, however, people have come to accept the broader view that the five suits are not limited to family members and can be applied to all kinship.
In this process, there are various understandings and interpretations of the five suits, such as the "out of the five suits" in the countryside refers to people who are not in the same family as themselves within the scope of the five suits but have a relationship with each other, generally including the great-grandfather, great-grandfather, grandfather, parents and themselves, sons, grandsons and great-grandchildren and great-grandchildren within seven generations.
In the Chinese concept, Wufu is one of the main factors used to judge which relatives are closer.
Although the meaning of the five clothes is different now, in ancient times, it was still used to denote a person's relationship with other individuals, including parents, children, and other relatives and friends.
However, there is still a certain amount of ambiguity and controversy in this, as some people may not be able to clearly define whether certain kinship relationships fall under the category of Wufu.
After the baptism and transformation of time, Wufu has become a part of Chinese culture, and it still has a certain influence in both traditional ritual activities and modern social occasions.
As the example of Fang Xiaoru's implication shows, the existence of Wufu has always involved the struggle of political forces and the struggle for power. In addition, although the current five-costume system is more simplified than in ancient times, it can still play an important role in certain occasions.
For example, when a family member dies, obeying different rules can affect the dress required for the funeral and other related Xi.
At this time, in order to ensure that local customs and Xi are observed, many people will ask for the specific definition and corresponding rules of the five costumes in order to prepare suitable mourning supplies for relatives and friends.
The five-service system is a treasure of Chinese culture, which not only represents the importance of ancient social governance, but also a basic norm of interpersonal communication in modern society.
Even in the context of changing times, understanding the five-service system still helps us to be more relatable and respectful in our interpersonal relationships.
——[Not a relative outside of the five suits]—
In ancient Chinese society, there were strict rules on the delineation of kinship, the most important of which was"Five suits"concept. However, with the changes of the times and the progress of society, people's understanding of relatives is also changing.
In traditional Chinese culture,"Five suits"Refers to the five different levels of funeral dress, representing the intimate relationship between the deceased and the wearer. They are chopping decay, Qi decay, great gong, small gong and hemp, which correspond to different levels of kinship.
For example, chopping is used to indicate the closest relatives, such as parents and spouses; On the other hand, it is an expression of mourning between distant relatives.
However, many people misunderstand"Five suits"It is only a way to distinguish between relatives and friends, and it is regarded as the only criterion for measuring the intimacy of interpersonal relationships. As everyone knows, this is only a part of the ancient etiquette norms, and it actually contains profound family values.
In the traditional Chinese family system, emphasis is placed on the importance of the continuation of the family bloodline, focusing on the sense of responsibility passed down from generation to generation and the emotional bond of mutual support.
Second, we need to dig deeper into why it happened"Non-relatives outside of the five suits"point of view. In ancient times, the political power structure was highly centralized, and the supremacy of imperial power forced people to accept a strict class system and class divisions.
In this case, maintaining a stable ruling order requires a strong patriarchal system, i.e., relying on family ties.
Therefore,"Five suits"It is regarded as a key factor in judging the identity of relatives, with the aim of establishing a clear relationship between superiors and subordinates and ensuring social stability and order.
However, with the development of society and the rise of individualism, people's way of thinking and value orientation have undergone profound changes. More and more people are realizing that true kinship is not only based on blood relations, but more importantly on the basis of emotional connection and mutual care.
This means that even if there is no legal provision"Five suits"Relationship, as long as both parties care for each other, can still be regarded as relatives with strong affection. "Five suits"As a historical product, it reflects the ideological concept and family concept of China's traditional society.
Although today, it may not be able to adapt to the rapidly developing social environment and the needs of individuals to pursue self-worth, it is still an important clue for us to interpret historical and cultural phenomena and think about the nature of family affection.
We should recognize that no matter how times change, what really matters is always how we perceive and cherish the family relationships around us, including those that transcend legal boundaries.
——[The role of the five-service system]—
The Wufu system is a unique kinship title system in ancient Chinese society, which consists of a series of strict hierarchical rules aimed at maintaining social stability and family harmony.
In this system, relatives are divided into five classes, known as the Gofu, each with a specific title and obligation.
The five service levels are: the beginning, the end, the sixth, the ninth and the twelfth. The first service refers to parents, children and siblings, the final service refers to grandparents and maternal grandparents, the sixth service refers to uncles and parents, the ninth service refers to cousins and sisters, and the twelfth service refers to cousins.
The reason why the ancients developed such a complex hierarchy was mainly to maintain a large family system. In ancient times, due to the encouragement of childbearing, a family would often expand to several generations of dozens of people, extending its branches like a large tree.
If there is no elaborate kinship title to distinguish between generations and relatives, it is easy for confusion to arise within the family. The five-service system divides different generations, so that people can distinguish at a glance who is their direct elders, juniors, and who are their relatives.
This is extremely important to stabilize the family order and prevent property rights entanglement. However, the five-service system is not just a cumbersome title regulation, and there are also a wealth of ethical responsibilities between different ranks.
For example, Shifu is the closest relative, and people have the duty to support their parents and educate their children. Although the twelve suits are the most distant relatives, they still have to take care of each other.
It is precisely because of the responsibilities of the five suits inside and outside that ancient China formed the spirit of a big family with heavy responsibilities and a long way to go. Of course, as a feudal relic, the five-service system also has its limitations.
It overemphasizes the concept of hierarchy, which can easily cause the embarrassment of the elders and the inferior. In addition, Wufu only attaches importance to the paternal bloodline and ignores the bloodline of the mother's side, which is also out of touch with the development of the times.
But we can't completely abandon the five suits because of this, after all, this is the crystallization of the unique family philosophy of the Chinese nation. If you blindly deny it, it is a separation of traditional culture.
Facing the future, we need to look at the five-service system from a more open and inclusive perspective, absorb the feelings of family and country contained in it, and its ethical concept of emphasizing collective interests still has a certain enlightening effect on today's society.
——[Conclusion]—
To sum it up,"Five suits"It is not only a cultural symbol, but also a spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation.
Although many traditional ideas are gradually fading in modern society, we must not forget our roots and should cherish and pass on these excellent cultural heritages.
However, there are always some things in this world that we cannot control, such as the future development trend, or the direction of human society. We have no way of knowing"Five suits"Whether it will disappear or not, it is impossible to predict what the fate of Chinese culture will be.
But that doesn't stop us from paying attention to and Xi these important things now, let's work together and contribute to the preservation and development of our culture!