JIA Pu, records of genealogy (or family tree books), also called Zu Pu, are significant in the history of the Chinese people.

Jia Pu are records of a clan¡¯s history and lineage that also express the worship of ancestors. Jia Pu contain entries on the migration of people and social evolution.

The original Jia Pu were found inscribed on turtle shells from the Shang Dynasty (1523-1028 BC). The practice of producing such works became popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

¡°Li Shi Zu Pu¡± is one Jia Pu recording the genealogical history of the surname Li. This ¡°Li¡± is a rare surname in China, with a history of over 4,000 years, according to the family tree book. The book was first written in the Han Dynasty (260 BC-AD 220) and was greatly revised during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

A family tree book is usually updated every 60 years. The most respected and well-educated people in the clan are chosen from different areas all over the country to form a group for this significant task.

The job is demanding. The chosen people sometimes must travel long distances to find people surnamed Li who have migrated to different areas. They send mail and make phone calls to obtain information about these people wherever they are in the country, according to Li Yimin, one of the editors of the 1987 version of ¡°Li Shi Zhu Pu¡± .

It usually takes three to five years to finish the updating work but modern conveniences like the telephone and Internet have aided their efforts.

Another task they are required to perform is finding funds and sponsors to defray the cost of writing and publishing the family tree book. The richest people of the clan are usually asked to contribute the biggest sums. The fund to update the family tree book is usually donated by the people of the clan.

¡°You will receive a warm welcome when you visit their homes. People are glad to boast that their family is included in the family tree book and the book will be consulted by their offspring,¡± said Li Yiling, one of the editors of the family tree book. ¡°They say they are happy with the feeling they belong to a big family.¡± Li Jian