Family Ritual and Family Integration:A Case Study of Family of GE in Shandong in Ming Dynasty

GE Shou-li,as ministers for three emperors,leads his family to becoming the prestigious one in Deping of Shandong in Ming Dynasty.This typically reflects the formation and development of new official family in imperial examination time.In order to extend the family prestige,GE family completes Abstracts of Family Ritual according to tradition and in this way respects the ancestors and gathers the whole family members.Through the writing process and its practice,issues like how rituals can construct a relational space which is beneficial to family relationship in different time,and how a comprehensive network based on blood can be constructed so as to integrate the whole family are explored.From family ritual to regional one,the former eventually becomes a tool in harmonizing family and state in traditional Chinese society.