religion; a system of faith and worship based on supernatural beliefs

the primary purpose, objective, or guiding principle behind an action or organization

authentic; genuine; completely following traditional standards or recipes

A large quantity or bulk of something, typically referring to money, cargo, or commodities

ancestors or forebears of a family or nation; usually refers to distant predecessors

A physical paper folder or file used to store documents

ancestors; forefathers; those who came before in earlier generations

A large family unit consisting of all people descended from the same male ancestor and sharing the same surname

a great master or scholar highly respected for their learning and integrity; an exemplary model in an academic or ideological field

A person or state that has prestige and authority over others; suzerain; head of a clan

The Chan or Zen sect of Buddhism; an influential school focusing on meditation and direct insight rather than scriptures, traditionally founded in China by Bodhidharma.

Jonathan Lee (born 1958), a Taiwanese record producer, singer, and songwriter who is one of the most influential figures in Mandopop

a sect, faction, or school of thought, especially in religion, politics, or scholarship; often used in modern contexts to refer to groups formed for self-interest

Emperor Taizong of Tang (reigned 626-649), second ruler of the Tang dynasty; posthumous title of [[李世民|李世民|li3 shi4 min2]]

The royal family or a member of the imperial clan; royal clansman.

The system of rules in ancient society based on lineage and family status used to determine succession, inheritance, and social hierarchy; clan law

The seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty, reigning from 712 to 756

relatives belonging to the same clan or sharing the same paternal ancestry; also known as [[族亲|族親|zu2 qin1]]

Li Zongren (1891–1969), Chinese general and politician who led the Guangxi warlord faction and served as vice-president and acting president of the Republic of China

Zuo Zongtang (1812-1885), a prominent Chinese statesman and military leader during the late Qing Dynasty; one of the four great officials of the late Qing alongside [[曾国藩|曾國藩|zeng1 guo2 fan1]], [[李鸿章|李鴻章|li3 hong2 zhang1]], and [[张之洞|張之洞|zhang1 zhi1 dong4]]

An ancestral temple or shrine, especially one dedicated to the ancestors of an emperor, feudal lord, or clan

Temple name used for various Chinese emperors, notably those of the Tang, Song, and Qing dynasties.

sectarianism; factionalism. A mindset or behavior that prioritizes the interests of a small group or faction over the whole, often involving cronyism and the exclusion of outsiders.

ancestral temple or hall where members of the same clan worship their ancestors

A famous scholar, writer, and philosopher during the Ming-Qing transition (1610-1695). Born in Zhejiang, he was a key founder of the Zhedong school of history and is known for his political philosophy and vast scholarship in history, literature, and the classics. His major works include "Waiting for the Dawn" and studies of Ming and Song-Yuan Confucianism.

to hand down from generation to generation; to ensure the continuation of a family's ancestral line by having offspring

The supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church; also referred to as [[教皇|教皇|jiao4 huang2]].

temple name of several Chinese emperors, most notably the tenth emperor of the Tang dynasty (reigned 779-805)

Liu Zongyuan (773–819), a famous essayist and poet of the Tang Dynasty. He was a leader of the Classical Prose Movement and is ranked among the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song. He is also known for his landscape travelogues and fables.

(literary) relatives belonging to the same clan or family

To belong to the same clan or share the same ancestry; to share the same surname

The eighth emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, known for his patronage of the arts and his unique style of calligraphy known as the [[瘦金体|瘦金體|shou4 jin1 ti3]] or slender gold style

A branch of Buddhism that emphasizes secret rituals, mantras, and visualization; includes the Vajrayana traditions of Tibet and the Zhenyan or Shingon sect in China and Japan.

To state the main theme or purpose clearly from the very beginning of a speech or piece of writing. Originally the title of the first chapter of the Classic of Filial Piety.

Third emperor of the Tang Dynasty, given name [[李治|李治|li3 zhi4]] (628-683), who reigned from 649 to 683.

remain essentially the same despite many apparent changes; many superficial changes but no departure from the original core

a book or record recording the genealogy of a family or clan

Temple name of the sixth and eighth Ming emperor (reigned 1435–1449 and 1457–1464 under the era names [[正统|正統|zheng4 tong3]] and [[天顺|天順|tian1 shun4]] respectively)

To bring glory to one's family line and ancestors

little devil; a spoiled child who behaves like a little tyrant

successive generations of ancestors; forefathers of a family or nation

The right for people to practice their religious beliefs and activities without interference

Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, fourth emperor of the Tang dynasty, whose personal name was [[李哲|李哲|li3 zhe2]] (reigned 684 and 705-710).

The academic study of religion; uses historical, psychological, and comparative methods to analyze religious texts, rituals, and artifacts.

In a feudal system, a state that exercises control over the diplomacy and defense of its vassal states

temple name of several Chinese emperors, notably Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty (reigned 840-846)

(literary) an outstanding writer whose works are highly respected and treated as models for study by others

Small in quantity; used for batches of goods, items, or sums of money.

Emperor Gaozong (1107–1187), born [[赵构|趙構|zhao4 gou4]], ninth son of Emperor Huizong and first emperor of the Southern Song dynasty; he was a noted calligrapher who eventually established a peaceful but subservient relationship with the Jin dynasty.