Abstract: After the peaceful “Gaitu Guiliu” (a policy of appointing local administrators in the minority areas in the Qing Dynasty) in Xiangxi in the fifth year of Emperor Yongzheng,the native inhabitants,whether they belonged to Tusi (local official of Tujia nationality) families or immigrants,started to recompose their families in order to prove their legality and legitimacy.Through methodology of anthropology,this paper,taking a case study of the Xiang’s family (surname),and with the reference of folk family tree,illustrates how family tree was recorded in folk literature,showing the family history in Xiangxi after Tusi system was demolished.

Key words: family tree;“Gaitu Guiliu&rdquo, (a policy of appointing local administrators in the minority areas in the Qing Dynasty);native inhabitants;family composition