A Glimpse of Historical Anthropology: Take the Representatives of David Ke, Zheng Zhenman and Zhao Shiyu as an Example

Abstract

This paper takes the four works of David Ke, Zheng Zhenman, and Zhao Shiyu and discusses the research ideas, subjects, and methods of historical anthropology. Through the micro-level analysis of clan research, it reveals the evolution of local social history and context. David's Emperor and Ancestors discusses the formation, development, and decline of clans in South China, emphasizing the role of clans as production control organizations; Zheng Zhenman's Fujian Family Organization and Social Changes in the Ming and Qing Dynasties analyzes the evolution of family structure, clan organization, and their social networks, and Zhao Shiyu's Carnival and Small History explores the historical changes of North China society from the perspective of local ritual traditions and temple fairs. This paper aims to understand social history from the perspective of historical anthropology through clan research and to reflect on its research paradigm.