The Kongs of Qufu: The Descendants of Confucius in Late Imperial China by Christopher S. Agnew

A longitudinal examination of the Qufu Kong lineage reveals their exceptional resilience and adaptability, defying dynastic changes and bureaucratic imperatives to maintain distinctiveness. Christopher S. Agnew's study demonstrates how this lineage exploited its genealogical and ritualistic privileges, achieving unprecedented self-rule and enduring influence. The research highlights a pivotal 11th-century ritualistic debate that solidified the Duke title for Fulfilling the Sage, later bifurcating administrative and ritualistic jurisdictions under Ming rule, creating a complex interplay between centralized aristocratic power and local administration that persisted into the 20th century.

Wyatt, D. J. (2018). The Kongs of Qufu: The Descendants of Confucius in Late Imperial China by Christopher S. Agnew. China Review International, 25(3-4), 243–247. https://doi.org/10.1353/cri.2018.0057