Glossary of Useful Terms

for Research in Taishan County

7 December 2004

Overview

These terms are useful in any Chinese research, but are included here with reference to Taishan County. All terms are in Mandarin with Pinyin romanisation.

A Brief List

Genealogical Terms
bai jia	The 100 households from which palace officals were selected.
di fang zhi	Local gazetters which are useful sources for family history.
di zhang zhi	Eldest son was a term used during the Zhou Dynasty and important as the eldest son had many special rights and priveleges.
die	Biographical sketches found in clan registers.
Han	Largest ethnic group in China which also refers to the dynasty that ruled 206BC to 220AD.
hui i lu	Personal memoirs
jiapu	Family genealogical charts often found in clan registers.
pu jin	Imperial ban on compiling genealogies during the Ch'ing Dynasty.
zhu hon	Chinese feudal prince whose power came from a blood relation to the imperial family.
zupu	Clan register usually a bound book containing details about the male members of each generation since the founding of the lineage.
Kinship Terms
biao di	Younger male cousin with a different surname.
biao ge	Older male cousin with a different surname.
biao jie	Older female cousin with a different surname.
biao mei	Younger female cousin with a different surname.
bo-bo	Paternal uncle older than your father.
fumu	Parents.
gu-ma	Paternal aunt.
jiemei	Sisters.
jiujjiu	Maternal uncle.
shu-shu	Paternal uncle younger than your father.
tang di	Younger male paternal cousin with the same surname.
tang ge	Older male paternal cousin with the same surname.
tang jie	Older female paternal cousin with the same surname.
tang mei	Younger female paternal cousin with the same surname.
waigoing	Affectionate term for maternal grandfather.
waipo	Affectionate term for maternal grandmother.
waizufu	Formal term for maternal grandfather.
wai zumu	Formal term for maternal grandmother.
xiongdi	Brothers
yeh-yeh	Affectionate term for paternal grandfather.
yima	Maternal aunt.
zufu	Formal term for paternal grandfather.
zumu	Formal term for paternal grandmother.