Thread by @timmyzone

News popped up today as Confucius' 76th gen. descendent in TW receives Double Ninth Fest' gifts (holiday celebrating longevity), while months ago, a TWnese actress starring in a new show, also made the news as his 76 gen. descendent. Just how many descendants are there, a thread:

So Confucius is no stranger to most folks around the world. Born in 551 BCE during Spring and Autumn period, he travels around then different Chinese states to spread his philosophical and political ideas. And his influences on most East Asian societies are still strong today.

Some 2500 years later, Confucius genealogical line has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest family tree in history, containing more than 2 million descendants around the world. And in 2007, it is estimated around 3000 are living in Taiwan.

Today let's look at the most prominent branch of this tree– its 'Main Line', the direct lineage of Confucius. So as time went by, Confucius was regarded as one of the most prominent thinkers of his time, as status of his ideas and philosophy grew, so did status of his family.

Throughout most of the dynasties of Chinese history, Confucius has often been regarded as 'Teacher of Supreme Honor'「至聖先師」'Teacher of all Teachers'「萬世師表」, and his direct descendants of main lineage were almost always given 'dukedom' or honorable titles in the court.

During Song Dynasty, The Kung Family were given the title of 'Duke of Yansheng' — lit. 'Honorable Sir of Overflowing Sagacity' (衍聖公). Kung Zongyuan, 46th-gen. descendant of Confucius, became the 1st person to hold the title, the title continued throughout Ming, Qing till 1912.

For 900 or so years, the dukes enjoyed privileges that other nobles were denied, such as the right to tax their domain in Qufu (Kung Family seat in Shangdong) while being exempt from imperial taxes. Their dukedom had its own judicial system often exempt from capital punishment.

Pushing to modern time, in 1932, the Nationalist government of ROC converted the Duke title to a political office,「大成至聖先師奉祀官」lit. "Ceremonial Official to Confucius", an inherent, minister-level, official title to this day. And YES, the main line is in Taiwan, TODAY.

Kung Te-cheng, 77th gen. –the final Duke and first to hold the title of Ceremonial Official, came with the KMT government to Taiwan. In addition to that, he also held a number of posts in the govt, incl. member of the Natl. Assembly, President of the Examination Yuan etc.

He and his family again was given quite some privileges, along with all these government roles and direct fundings for the 'modern dukedom', he also held professorship at NTU, and both his sons, reportedly did poorly at the college exam, were admitted to NTU and Chengchi Univ.

Gradually, Taiwan slowly transforms into a democratic republic. And public opinions no longer supports "an inherent nobility" given to a single family. Their title was changed to a non-paid ceremonial role in 2008 and future female descents were able to inherit the title.

Today, Kong Tsui-chang, 79th gen.– the current Ceremonial Official titleholder– works in business, and serves as the head ceremonial officer during each year's Confucian Ceremony in Taipei, and has flown back to Qufu for hosting the ceremony in China. He has a son and daughter.

Is it a thousands-year-old noble family's tragic history to be forced out of their family seat and land to cross the narrow sea to a tiny island? Not sure. But it's interesting to see how when China claims their cultural heritage of Confucius and packing its idealism into it ...

Could a Confucian tradition in Taiwan (still primed itself from the bloodline) continue, as a more Taiwanized heritage? Or would it gradually lose its footing as Taiwan moves towards a less sinicized and multi-cultural society?
#ModernDayNobilityinTaiwan