Note: This is a provisional (unofficial) English translation of the Japanese announcement published on our Japanese site. The Japanese original takes precedence. The translation may be revised without notice.
Paper Published in La Généalogie Vol. 1, No. 7
A paper by Yuya Kinoshita, Director of our Institute, titled "A Preliminary Study on the Theoretical Framework for Genealogical Science (7): Terminology (4)," has been published in La Généalogie (Keizu-Keifu Ronkyu), Volume 1, Number 7.
Abstract
As the fourth installment of the terminology of Genealogical Science, this paper discusses lineage and kinship terms in general, from basic concepts to derived concepts, and coins numerous new terms for areas whose concepts had been underdeveloped or left blank.
As the group of basic concepts, it defines reference person (kijunsha), generation, lineage, kinship, house (ie), family, clan (shizoku), kin group (ichizoku), and clan-faction complex (zokubatsu fukugōtai). It fixes “generation,” which had no definition in the basic texts of family law or in legal dictionaries, as a relative positional concept with the position of the reference person set at 0, and defines “same generation.” By defining “lineage” as a unilinear concept, it establishes the basis for defining derived terms such as “male line” and “female line.” It coins half-ascendant (hansonzoku), half-descendant (hanhizoku), clan-faction complex, and same-age stratum (dōreisō).
As the group of lineage concepts, it systematizes direct line, collateral line, male line, female line, mixed line, paternal line, maternal line, multiple line, paternal side, maternal side, common ancestor, and nearest common ancestor. In particular, it tightens the definitions of male line, female line, paternal line, and maternal line, and coins “mixed line” and “multiple line” for domains where the concepts had been blank. It also coins paternal and maternal side, branch of a clan (shizoku bunryū), and nearest common ancestor. It points out that the meanings of “descent,” “patrilineal,” and “matrilineal” in cultural anthropology presuppose social constructionism and are incompatible with the academic purpose of Genealogical Science, and therefore excludes their adoption. The form “the ○○ clan’s ×× branch,” which had no designation, is termed “branch of a clan” (shizoku bunryū).
As the group of kinship concepts, it subdivides the concepts related to natural blood kinship and establishes definitions for consanguineal kin (jitsuzoku), quasi-natural blood kin (gisei shizen ketsuzoku), non-natural consanguineal kin (hishizen ketsuzoku jitsuzoku), presumed consanguineal kin (suitei jitsuzoku), adoptive kin (yōzoku), de facto adoptive kin (jijitsu yōzoku), and affinal kin (shizoku). It thereby develops definitions that overcome the temporal and regional limits of civil-law concepts. It coins quasi-natural blood kin, non-natural consanguineal kin, presumed consanguineal kin, kin-group ancestor (zokuso), de facto adoptive kin, legal affinal kin, de facto affinal kin, adoptive couple parent (fufu yōshin), and adoptive couple child (fufu yōshi).
As the group of sequence-of-birth concepts, it coins overall birth-order sibling designation (zentai shusshō junii zokugara), sex-specific birth-order sibling designation (seibetsu shusshō junii zokugara), paternal prior spouse (fuzenhai), maternal prior spouse (bozenhai), adopted bride (yome yōshi), and double first cousin (nijū itoko).
As the group of succession concepts, it defines clan ancestor (shiso), house ancestor (kaso), kin-group ancestor (zokuso), clan head (shishu), kin-group head (zokushu), head of household (tōshu), family line (kakei), principal line (chakuryū), collateral line (bōryū), cadet line (shoryū), subsidiary line (shiryū), discontinuation of a family line (kakei danzetsu), abolition of a family line (kakei haishi), and revival of a family line (kakei saikō), and coins kin-group ancestor, clan head, kin-group head, establishment of a new house (shinke sōritsu), and establishment of a branch house (bunke sōritsu).
Publication Details
- Title: A Preliminary Study on the Theoretical Framework for Genealogical Science (7): Terminology (4)
- Author: Yuya Kinoshita
- Journal: La Généalogie (Keizu-Keifu Ronkyu), Vol. 1, No. 7
- Publisher: Family Research Council (Kakenkyou)
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.69352/keiron.1.7_1
Access
The full text (in Japanese) is freely available at:
- J-STAGE: https://doi.org/10.69352/keiron.1.7_1
- Family Research Council: https://www.kakenkyou.org/keiron1-7/
Keywords
genealogical records, genealogies, Genealogical Science, terminology, family law, kinship law, succession law, ancestral rites, succession, clan, kin group, kinship, family, direct line, collateral line, male line, female line, paternal line, maternal line, ○○ clan ×× branch, principal line, cadet line, main house, branch house, natural blood kinship, cultural anthropology, mixed line, multiple line, paternal and maternal side, establishment of a branch house, branch of a clan
