900 years of the Qin Family

[old time]

Have any one read the book by Frank Ching, the 900 years history of the Qin Family? Is it a popular work in the field of Chinese genealogy?

[Woodson]

Guest-old said:

Have any one read the book by Frank Ching, the 900 years history of the Qin Family? Is it a popular work in the field of Chinese genealogy?

A few years ago came across it in the public library and decided to give it a try. Don't remember all the detail but it was enjoyable. The author traced his roots starting with the famous Song dynasty poet, Qin Guan (¯³Æ[). Along the way he spent a chapter speculating whether Qin Gui (¯³ÀÌ), another big name of the Song dynasty, was part of his tree or not.

[David Wong]

I've read this book. I believe it's called "Ancestors".

I picked it up at one of the discount book stores in town about 15 years ago, and spent a weekend reading it. Nice large print, easy to understand reading. I recall it being a bit patronizing (but who isn't with their family), with the author, Frank Ching (a former New York columnist, I recollect) tracing his family lineage to some of the great Qin families... but making an interesting and pointed disassociation from the traitor Qin to General Yang of the Song dynasty.

The statue of the traitor Qin (I can't remember the rest of his name) is found on it's knees at the memorial tomb to General Yue Fai, in Hangzhou. I remember visiting this tomb back in the early 80's and seeing the traitor's metal (bronze) statue covered in spit (yuck).

I really enjoyed reading Frank Ching's book and sort of reflects the passion that many of us experience on our own root searches. I'd recommend it to all.

[Woodson]

vancouverwong said:

The statue of the traitor Qin (I can't remember the rest of his name) is found on it's knees at the memorial tomb to General Yue Fai, in Hangzhou. I remember visiting this tomb back in the early 80's and seeing the traitor's metal (bronze) statue covered in spit (yuck).

In reality Qin was a scapegoat, a henchman for carrying out the wills of the Song emperor. The emperor certainly did not wanted to have his father and older brother, both former emperors, rescued. Their return would've placed him in a difficult position: should he addicted in favour of his brother or not. If he didn't there remained the possibility of a coup engineer by his brother or followers. If he did then he had to be concerned about his own safety as his brother may worry about a coup by him. So the best course of action was nip any northern military expedition with potential of rescuing the two emperors. General Yue died because he failed to read or chose to ignore the emperor's intentions.

There is no way a general could be executed, in this case a slow death by torture, without some form of permission from the emperor.

I'm not saying Qin is blameless but we should add another statue in front of the grave.

[kerry]

I found a copy in a second hand book store a couple of years ago. In rural NSW. No idea how it got there.

Maybe the "patronising" view is related to the time it was written. The opening deals with some of the challenges the author had in getting in there in the first place. In the mid 80's - (my print says 1988) - China was a long way from hosting the Olympics.