chuánzōngjiēdài: 传宗接代 - To Carry on the Family Line, To Produce an Heir

• Keywords: chuan zong jie dai, chuánzōngjiēdài, 传宗接代, carry on the family line, produce an heir, continue the ancestral lineage, have a son Chinese culture, filial piety, Chinese family values, succession, legacy
• Summary: “传宗接代” (chuánzōngjiēdài) is a foundational Chinese cultural concept meaning “to carry on the family line” or “produce an heir.” Rooted in Confucian filial piety, it describes the profound traditional duty, especially for a son, to marry and have male offspring to ensure the continuation of the family name, lineage, and ancestral worship. While still influential, particularly among older generations, this idea is increasingly challenged by modern views on gender equality and individual happiness in contemporary China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chuán zōng jiē dài
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase / Chengyu (Idiom)
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To carry on the ancestral line by producing the next generation, traditionally a male heir.
• In a Nutshell: This isn't just about having children. It's a heavy, culturally-loaded term that encapsulates the traditional responsibility to ensure your family's legacy doesn't end with you. It's a sacred duty owed to countless generations of ancestors. The core idea is that an individual's life is one link in a long chain, and their primary purpose is to forge the next link.

• 传 (chuán): To pass on, transmit, or hand down. Think of a teacher transmitting knowledge or passing down a tradition.
• 宗 (zōng): Ancestor, clan, or lineage. It refers to the entire family line stretching back through history.
• 接 (jiē): To connect, to receive, or to continue. Imagine接力 (jiēlì), a relay race where one runner connects with the next.
• 代 (dài): Generation. Think of 一代人 (yīdài rén), one generation of people.

These four characters combine to create a vivid image: “To transmit the ancestral clan (and) connect to the next generation.” It paints a picture of receiving a sacred torch from your ancestors and being responsible for passing it on.

The concept of `传宗接代` is deeply embedded in Chinese society and is a cornerstone of understanding traditional family values.

• Confucianism and Filial Piety (孝, xiào): The primary philosophical driver is filial piety. The influential philosopher Mencius famously stated, “不孝有三，无后为大” (bú xiào yǒu sān, wú hòu wéi dà), which means “There are three acts of unfilial piety, and the worst is to have no descendants.” For centuries, this shaped marriage and family life. Having a son to carry on the lineage was seen as the ultimate act of respect and duty towards one's parents and ancestors.
• Patriarchal Lineage: Traditionally, only a male heir could carry the family name, inherit ancestral property, and, most importantly, perform the rites of ancestor worship (e.g., tending to graves during the Qingming Festival). Daughters would marry into their husband's family and were expected to help continue their husband's lineage. This is the root of the traditional preference for sons, a phenomenon known as `重男轻女 (zhòng nán qīng nǚ)`.
• Comparison to Western Culture: In the West, “carrying on the family name” exists, but it's often a point of mild pride or nostalgia rather than a profound moral or spiritual obligation. A couple might hope for a son to carry on the surname, but it's rarely seen as their primary purpose for getting married or as a failure if they only have daughters. For `传宗接代`, the pressure was immense and framed as a sacred duty to the entire clan, living and dead. It was less about personal choice and more about fulfilling a collective, multi-generational responsibility.

The role of `传宗接代` is a topic of great debate in modern China, and its usage reflects a society in transition.

• Traditional Context (Older Generations / Rural Areas): Among grandparents and in more traditional families, the pressure to `传宗接代` can still be very real. It's a common source of conflict between generations, with elders urging young couples to marry and have children (preferably a boy) soon after marriage.
• Modern Urban Context: For many young, educated, urban Chinese, the concept is viewed as feudal, patriarchal, and outdated. They prioritize individual fulfillment, romantic partnership, and financial stability over this traditional duty. Many women actively reject the idea that their primary value is in producing an heir.
• Connotation and Formality:
  • Neutral: It can be used in a neutral, descriptive way, especially when discussing history or traditional beliefs (e.g., “In ancient China, the main purpose of marriage was to `传宗接代`.”).
  • Negative/Ironic: It is often used with a critical or ironic tone by younger people to mock outdated thinking or to describe someone who holds such traditional views. For example, calling someone “a walking `传宗接代` machine” would be a deep insult.
  • Formality: It is a formal Chengyu, but it's widely understood. You'll hear it in family dramas, read it in articles about social change, and hear it in serious family discussions.

• Example 1:
  • 很多老一辈的人认为，结婚最重要的目的就是传宗接代。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō lǎo yībèi de rén rènwéi, jiéhūn zuì zhòngyào de mùdì jiùshì chuánzōngjiēdài.
  • English: Many people from the older generation believe that the most important purpose of marriage is to carry on the family line.
  • Analysis: This is a neutral, descriptive sentence explaining a traditional viewpoint. It's a very common way to frame the concept.
• Example 2:
  • 他是家里的独生子，所以传宗接代的压力非常大。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì jiālǐ de dúshēngzǐ, suǒyǐ chuánzōngjiēdài de yālì fēicháng dà.
  • English: He is the only son in the family, so the pressure to produce an heir is immense.
  • Analysis: This highlights the personal burden the concept can place on an individual, especially an only son. The one-child policy often intensified this pressure.
• Example 3:
  • 现在的年轻人更注重个人幸福，不太在乎传宗接代这种老观念了。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài de niánqīngrén gèng zhùzhòng gèrén xìngfú, bù tài zàihū chuánzōngjiēdài zhè zhǒng lǎo guānniàn le.
  • English: Young people today care more about personal happiness and don't pay much mind to old concepts like carrying on the family line.
  • Analysis: This shows the modern, often dismissive attitude towards the term, framing it as an “old concept” (老观念).
• Example 4:
  • 封建社会里，女人的价值似乎就是为了给夫家传宗接代。
  • Pinyin: Fēngjiàn shèhuì lǐ, nǚrén de jiàzhí sìhū jiùshì wèile gěi fūjiā chuánzōngjiēdài.
  • English: In feudal society, a woman's value seemed to be solely for the purpose of bearing heirs for her husband's family.
  • Analysis: This example uses the term in a critical, historical context to highlight its connection to patriarchy and the subjugation of women.
• Example 5:
  • 为了传宗接代，他们尝试了很多方法，希望能生个儿子。
  • Pinyin: Wèile chuánzōngjiēdài, tāmen chángshìle hěnduō fāngfǎ, xīwàng néng shēng ge érzi.
  • English: In order to carry on the family line, they tried many methods, hoping to have a son.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly links the concept to the specific goal of having a son, which is central to its traditional meaning.
• Example 6:
  • 那个电视剧里的皇帝，一生都在为没有皇子传宗接代而烦恼。
  • Pinyin: Nàge diànshìjù lǐ de huángdì, yīshēng dōu zài wèi méiyǒu huángzǐ chuánzōngjiēdài ér fánnǎo.
  • English: The emperor in that TV drama worried his entire life about not having a royal son to continue the dynasty.
  • Analysis: This shows how the concept applies on a grand scale, where the “family line” is an entire imperial dynasty. A very common trope in historical dramas.
• Example 7:
  • 我才不关心什么传宗接代，我只想和我爱的人在一起，有没有孩子都行。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ cái bù guānxīn shénme chuánzōngjiēdài, wǒ zhǐ xiǎng hé wǒ ài de rén zài yīqǐ, yǒu méiyǒu háizi dōu xíng.
  • English: I couldn't care less about “carrying on the family line”; I just want to be with the person I love, whether we have kids or not.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example of a modern, individualistic rejection of the traditional concept. The speaker explicitly contrasts `传宗接代` with modern values like romantic love.
• Example 8:
  • 他的祖父总是在念叨“不孝有三，无后为大”，催他赶紧结婚传宗接代。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zǔfù zǒngshì zài niàndao “bú xiào yǒu sān, wú hòu wéi dà”, cuī tā gǎnjǐn jiéhūn chuánzōngjiēdài.
  • English: His grandfather is always reciting “There are three types of unfilial piety, having no heir is the worst,” urging him to hurry up and get married to carry on the family line.
  • Analysis: This directly connects the term to its philosophical Confucian origin, showing how it's used in inter-generational conversations (or lectures).
• Example 9:
  • 在一些偏远地区，传宗接代的思想依然根深蒂固。
  • Pinyin: Zài yīxiē piānyuǎn dìqū, chuánzōngjiēdài de sīxiǎng yīrán gēnshēndìgù.
  • English: In some remote areas, the idea of carrying on the family line is still deeply rooted.
  • Analysis: This acknowledges the regional differences in how the concept is viewed within China today.
• Example 10:
  • 他娶了一个妻子，不是因为爱情，而仅仅是把她当作传宗接代的工具。
  • Pinyin: Tā qǔle yīgè qīzi, bùshì yīnwèi àiqíng, ér jǐnjǐn shì bǎ tā dàngzuò chuánzōngjiēdài de gōngjù.
  • English: He married a wife not because of love, but merely as a tool for producing an heir.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the term with a strong negative and critical connotation, highlighting the dehumanizing potential of this traditional value.

• Mistake: Thinking it just means “to have kids”. The phrase `生孩子 (shēng háizi)` simply means “to give birth to a child/have kids.” `传宗接代` is much grander and more specific. It implies a duty, a lineage, and a historical preference for a male heir. You have kids for personal reasons; you `传宗接代` for your ancestors.
• False Friend: “To start a family”. In English, “starting a family” is a forward-looking, personal decision focused on creating a new, nuclear family unit. `传宗接代` is a backward-looking duty, focused on continuing an old, ancestral family unit. The focus is entirely different.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Incorrect: ~~我们周末的计划是传宗接代。~~ (Wǒmen zhōumò de jìhuà shì chuánzōngjiēdài.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds absurd in Chinese. `传宗接代` is a life-long, grand purpose or duty, not a weekend plan or a fun activity. It's like saying “My plan for the weekend is to ensure the perpetuation of my genetic and spiritual legacy.” The correct and natural way to say “Our plan for the weekend is to try for a baby” would be much more direct and less formal, e.g., `我们周末计划要个宝宝 (wǒmen zhōumò jìhuà yào ge bǎobao)`.

• 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - Filial piety; the core cultural value that makes `传宗接代` a moral imperative.
• 重男轻女 (zhòng nán qīng nǚ) - “To value males and belittle females”; the social bias that results from the traditional need for a male heir to `传宗接代`.
• 香火 (xiānghuǒ) - Literally “incense and fire.” A powerful metaphor for the family line. `延续香火 (yánxù xiānghuǒ)` means “to continue the family line” and is a close synonym.
• 不孝有三，无后为大 (bú xiào yǒu sān, wú hòu wéi dà) - The classical saying from Mencius, “There are three ways to be unfilial, and having no heir is the greatest,” which is the philosophical justification for this concept.
• 后代 (hòudài) - Descendants, posterity. The “代” in `传宗接代` refers to producing `后代`.
• 养儿防老 (yǎng ér fáng lǎo) - “Raise a son to provide for you in your old age.” A practical and economic reason that reinforced the importance of sons.
• 血脉 (xuèmài) - Bloodline. A more biological term for lineage that is often used when discussing the continuation of a family.
• 子孙 (zǐsūn) - Children and grandchildren; descendants. A key goal of `传宗接代` is to have a long line of `子孙`.