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Paper Published in La Généalogie Vol. 1, No. 6
A paper by Yuya Kinoshita, Director of our Institute, titled "A Preliminary Study on the Theoretical Framework for Genealogical Science (6): Terminology (3)," has been published in La Généalogie (Keizu-Keifu Ronkyu), Volume 1, Number 6.
Abstract
The unification of terminology is an indispensable precondition for establishing Genealogical Science as an interdisciplinary academic field. This paper aims at the systematic organization of the group of concepts concerning the factuality of documents. After comprehensively organizing the related concepts in existing genealogical research and traditional genealogy, in historiography, documentary studies, and the study of forged documents, and comparing them with document-related concepts in criminal law, it formulates a terminological system peculiar to Genealogical Science.
An analysis of the concept group concerning the factuality of documents in traditional genealogy and related fields reveals fatal defects: ① a deficiency of classificatory system (in particular, the absence of a distinction between intentional and unintentional false recording); ② absence of definitions; ③ mismatch between general meaning and substantive meaning; ④ improper appropriation of the concept of “counterfeit” (nisemono), which presupposes the existence of an authentic original; ⑤ excessive synonyms and sensory conflation of usage; ⑥ excessive word meanings; and ⑦ inconsistency with criminal-law concepts. These defects cannot be cured by partial reorganization; a fundamental revision of the classificatory system and of the vocabulary used is required.
Accordingly, this paper does not adopt the existing concept group such as “pseudo-documents” (gisho), and independently constructs a system centered on document-related concepts in criminal law. As the definition of a document, applying criminal-law concepts, it requires satisfaction of three elements: expression of intention or idea, visibility, and permanence. As the general concept of non-factual entries, it adopts “false recording” (fujitsu kisai). As its classification, it formulates intentional types (false attribution of name, false content, alteration, imitation, overstatement, understatement, and intentional omission) and unintentional types (misidentification of fact, clerical error, miscopying, mistransmission, interpretive error, and unintentional omission). To handle documents of mixed nature, it establishes the concepts of improper joining and untrue ancestral surname. Furthermore, it prohibits the use in Genealogical Science of terms such as “impersonation” (kabō) and “forged authorship” (gisaku), which have been frequently used in traditional genealogy.
Publication Details
- Title: A Preliminary Study on the Theoretical Framework for Genealogical Science (6): Terminology (3)
- Author: Yuya Kinoshita
- Journal: La Généalogie (Keizu-Keifu Ronkyu), Vol. 1, No. 6
- Publisher: Family Research Council (Kakenkyou)
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.69352/keiron.1.6_1
Access
The full text (in Japanese) is freely available at:
- J-STAGE: https://doi.org/10.69352/keiron.1.6_1
- Family Research Council: https://www.kakenkyou.org/keiron1-6/
Keywords
genealogical records, genealogies, Genealogical Science, terminology, criminal law, documents, false recording, factuality of documents, pseudo-documents, forgery, impersonation, false content, spurious documents, spurious genealogical records, untrue ancestral surname, forged authorship, embellishment, kajō
