adopt an heir; establish succession
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to adopt an heir (for a sonless man); to designate a relative's son as successor
literaryA traditional Chinese legal and ritual term from Confucian family law. Used when a man without male offspring would adopt a nephew (usually from the same generation of the extended family) to continue the family line, inherit property, and perform ancestral rites. Distinct from 过继 (guòjì), which is a more general term for adoption.
Since he had no children, he decided to adopt an heir from among his brothers' sons.
According to old customs, those without offspring needed to establish an heir to continue the family line.
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The matter of adopting an heir concerns the continuation of the family line and must not be decided hastily.
Under the ancient patriarchal clan system, establishing an heir was an important way to maintain ancestral worship.