A Study Of The Changes Of The Zhuang Family Of Qingyang In Jinjiang In The Ming And Qing Dynasties And Their Influence

The history of the Zhang family in Qingyang,Jinjiang is nearly 800 years,dating back to the late Southern Song Dynasty.After settling in Qingyang,the Zhuang family quickly established a foothold in the local area.During the Yuan Dynasty,they steadily developed and gained considerable influence in the region.In the early Ming Dynasty,the heavy taxation led to heavy losses of Zhuang family members,but they made timely adjustments,and in the early years of Tianshun,a member of the Zhuang family had obtained official status by the way of "Raising to Official Rank".After the Chenghua period,the Zhuang family had a lot of talents in the imperial examinations and many officials,and the family genealogy,clan rules,ancestral,fields and rituals tended to be complete,and the family became more and more developed.In the Qing Dynasty,although the Zhuang family’s achievements in imperial examinations and officialdom were not as remarkable as in the Ming Dynasty,there were still members who obtained official positions through imperial examinations.Some family members also turned their attention to the ocean,greatly expanding their development opportunities.In order to consolidate the family’s position in the local society,the Zhuang family established close ties with local clans,renowned scholars and scribes through marriage,apprenticeship and intercourse.As a prominent family in Qingyang during the Ming and Qing Dynasties,the Zhuang family played a significant and positive role in the local society.They promoted the level of local literature and the Yi studies,and also actively supported local cultural and educational endeavors.They also played an important role in building production facilities,organizing agricultural production,and constructing ancestral temples and shrines,among other local public affairs.They provided disaster relief,resisted Japanese and bandit invasions,and formulated local agreements to guide local customs,becoming an important force in maintaining stability in Qingyang and even the Jinjiang region.As a family of imperial examination candidates and officials,the Zhuang family members mainly held local government positions,and their official ranks were generally not high.Although their political views tended to be conservative,they also had a keen awareness of current issues.Overall,the Zhuang family had limited political influence,but those who served as officials in the capital were outspoken in giving good advice and promoting virtuous deeds,while those in local government were dedicated to serving the people and were well-regarded by the local population.