The Legend of the “Hongwu Dispersal” in the Early Ming and the Construction of Ancestral-Origin Memory among Lineages in Northern Jiangsu
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/yb8cnx54Keywords:
Hongwu Dispersal; Changmen, Suzhou; Ancestral-Origin Memory; Collective Memory.Abstract
The “Hongwu Dispersal” of the early Ming dynasty is a well-known migration legend in northern Jiangsu. It serves as a shared narrative for numerous local clans that trace their ancestral origins to it and shapes the ancestral memory of “Changmen Gate in Suzhou.” By analyzing the core elements of this Changmen narrative and integrating theories of collective and historical memory, we can better understand how Changmen evolved from a physical geographical site into a symbolic spiritual homeland for these clans. The Changmen narrative offers a unified vision of ancestry to diverse local populations, reinforces regional group identity, establishes cultural legitimacy through the cultural heritage of southern Jiangnan, and provides a locus for displaced communities to express nostalgia while maintaining local social organization. Examining this case deepens our understanding of how local clan identities form.
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