祧 (tiāo) - Ancestral temple & the main line of descent in a family

祧Tone 1

tiāo ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

祧 · tiāo

Ancestral temple;

the main line of descent in a family;

to inherit the family line.

Ancestral templethe main line of descent in a familyto inherit the family line.

Usage highlights

Ancestral templeInherit the family lineMain ancestral lineNo heir to continue lineageDistant ancestral templeTemple for distant ancestors

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 绝嗣— to have no heir; to die without issue
  • 断后— to have no descendants; to break the family line

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancestral temple (祧庙) is where family rituals are performed.
  • He is the heir to carry on the family line (承祧).
  • The eldest son inherits the main ancestral line (宗祧).
  • This branch of the family has no one to continue the lineage (不祧).

Collocations

  • Ancestral temple(祧庙)
  • Inherit the family line(承祧)
  • Main ancestral line(宗祧)
  • No heir to continue lineage(不祧)
  • Distant ancestral temple(远祧)
  • Temple for distant ancestors(祧主)

Idioms

  • The ancestral temple that cannot be moved(不祧之祖)
  • To inherit the family line and continue the ancestral rites(承祧继统)
  • The main line of descent in a family(宗祧继承)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, maintaining the ancestral line was of paramount importance in Confucian family values.
  • The concept of 祧 was central to the patrilineal system where the eldest son inherited the responsibility of ancestral worship.
  • Ancestral temples (祧庙) served as physical spaces for family rituals and maintaining connections with ancestors.

FAQ