Family History in China at a Crossroads: Family Narratives, Personal Memory, and Public History

With state control being a consistent pattern for more than 2,000 years, family (jia) and state (guo) seem inseparable in China. During the twenty-first century, media technology, freer access to information, and increasing mobility have tilted this delicate balance. At a massive scale and in various forms and genres, family history and genealogy are flourishing. Why has family history had such a mobilizing effect on ordinary people over the last two decades? How does family history contribute to our understanding of historical and societal changes? This article traces the history of family history in China and pinpoints where the traditional family history fails. With a critical survey of the emerging family history practices, it argues for a more practical-oriented approach, with which family history can connect personal narratives, family memories, and public history.