Fujian and Taiwan Lai clan members are discussing genealogy compilation matters.

Fujian and Taiwan share common roots, with genealogies serving as evidence. Recently, Xintian Village in Banzi Township, Pinghe County, extended an invitation across the Taiwan Strait, inviting Taiwan's Lai clan members from Xintian to provide their respective genealogical information and jointly participate in compiling the "Xintian Lai Clan Grand Genealogy." By organizing the lineage of Fujian-Taiwan Xintian Lai descendants, they aim to form a complete comprehensive genealogy.

According to ancient Xintian Lai genealogical records, during the late Yuan Dynasty, the founding ancestor Bu Long relocated from Tianxin Natural Village in Xiage Township, Zhao'an County, to Xintian Village in Banzi Township, Pinghe County. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Bu Long's descendants began crossing the sea to Taiwan, branching out and multiplying, with the highest concentrations in Taichung and Changhua. Currently, there are over 60,000 Xintian Lai descendants on the island. Those cultural symbols passed down from Xintian have deeply rooted themselves in their lives, leaving indelible historical marks.

**Compiling the Genealogy**

"Brother Huanjie, Xintian Village is currently compiling the 'Xintian Lai Clan Grand Genealogy.' The mainland's lineage has been basically organized. Next, we hope to record all Taiwan clan members' migration information. Could you send us the genealogical materials from Dacun Township, Changhua County?"

"Where the genealogy exists, the roots remain. This is a wonderful endeavor, and we will definitely cooperate."

During the peak summer season, in the office of the "Xintian Shuying Cultural Cross-Strait Research Association" in Xintian Village, Banzi Township, Pinghe County, stacks of genealogical materials lay on a simple long table. Three or four editors sat around, buried in proofreading and supplementing the "Xintian Lai Clan Grand Genealogy" in their hands.

Nearly seventy-year-old Lai Hanzhong, chief editor of the "Xintian Lai Clan Grand Genealogy," was video calling with elderly Lai Huanjie from Dacun Township, Changhua, Taiwan. Both are 22nd-generation descendants of Bu Long and are passionate about researching the historical origins of the Fujian-Taiwan Xintian Lai clan.

The Lai clan originated over 3,000 years ago during the Yin-Shang period, honoring Shuying, the nineteenth son of King Wen of Zhou and younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, as their great ancestor. Dacun Township in Changhua County represents descendants of Bu Long's sons Jingchun and Jinglu, with this lineage process detailed in Dacun Township's genealogy.

"Dacun Township has 16 villages, with ninety percent of the population surnamed Lai, all from Pinghe Xintian," said Lai Huanjie, a resident of Daqiao Village in Dacun Township, belonging to Jingchun's branch. In recent years, he frequently returns to Pinghe Xintian Village with Dacun Township's Lai clan members to pay respects to ancestors and offer incense. "One cannot forget their roots! My grandfather instructed me while alive to definitely return and seek our origins, never breaking this kinship bond."

Lai Huanjie's persistence reflects Dacun Township's commitment. In Dacun Township, there are two ancestral halls separately honoring Jingchun and Jinglu, helping descendants know where their roots lie. Daqiao Village's Lai clan hall is called "Remembrance Hall," where "remembrance" combines Tianxin and Xintian, telling descendants they come from Xintian, which originated from Tianxin. During the Qing Dynasty, two brothers from Jingchun's branch simultaneously achieved military honors, and the plaque reading "Brothers on the Same Honor Roll" is still preserved, becoming a local "tourism attraction."

Although time has passed, every brick and tile in Dacun Township still preserves ancestral memories, and the currently compiled "Xintian Lai Clan Grand Genealogy" will undoubtedly become another testament to Fujian-Taiwan common origins.

Every year on the ninth day of the second lunar month is Xintian Village's traditional temple fair. On this day, many Taiwan clan members cross the sea by invitation to participate in the annual "Cross-Strait Affection, Xintian Bond" Baosheng Emperor Cultural Festival and jointly worship their ancestors at the Xintian Lai ancestral temple. Lai Huanjie and Lai Hanzhong became acquainted through this event.

"My health hasn't been good recently, so I temporarily cannot return. You could visit Dacun Township to see our ancestral hall and the 'Brothers on the Same Honor Roll' historical site."

"There will definitely be opportunities. Let's work together and cherish this kinship!"

In the video call, Lai Huanjie and Lai Hanzhong chatted like family, making beautiful wishes for future reunions.

**Recognition**

Like Dacun Township across the strait, Xintian Village also preserves many historical memories proving that Fujian and Taiwan are one family. Entering Xintian Village, Xintian Temple, which worships Baosheng Emperor, represents the most characteristic folk heritage. Built in late Yuan and early Ming periods and renovated multiple times, it has grown larger and more beautiful, with golden glazed tiles, exquisite swallow-tail ridges, and a two-courtyard, three-bay layout preserving distinct Fujian architectural features.

"The most recent renovation was in 2023, jointly funded by believers from both sides of the strait. Among them, Taichung's Yuanbao Temple contributed the most," Lai Hanzhong told reporters. After Xintian Lai clan members migrated to Taichung during the Qing Yongzheng reign, some suffered from climate adjustment and frequent illness. Taichung clan members then brought incense and deity statues from Xintian Temple to Taiwan, later building Yuanbao Temple during the Qianlong period.

Divine connections link both shores, making Fujian and Taiwan even closer. As Taichung's largest Baosheng Emperor temple, Yuanbao Temple has numerous believers and has continuously protected 17 Lai-surnamed villages that migrated from Pinghe County's Xintian Village since its establishment. Therefore, many villages' ancestral temples' spirit tablets and villagers' tombstones still bear the characters "Xintian."

"Xintian Temple is Yuanbao Temple's 'mother temple.' Whenever we have time, we organize groups to return home and pay respects," said Lai Xinxiong, chairman of Taichung Yuanbao Temple's management committee.

Hearts connected, growing closer through visits. Besides funding Xintian Temple's renovation, Yuanbao Temple also donated a teaching building to Xintian Village's elementary school. To commemorate Fujian-Taiwan clan friendship, the school was renamed "Xintian Yuanbao Elementary School."

According to incomplete statistics, since cross-strait exchanges resumed in 1987, Xintian Temple has received three to four thousand Taiwan clan members and believers.

Beside Xintian Temple stands the Lai ancestral temple, built in the first year of Ming Tianqi (1621), serving as the common ancestral hall for over 100,000 Xintian Lai descendants across Fujian and Taiwan. After joint renovation by Fujian-Taiwan clan members in 2019, this place serves not only as an ancestral temple for worship but also as an exhibition hall narrating the historical origins and exchange stories of Fujian-Taiwan Xintian Lai clan.

The Lai ancestral temple displays a special old photograph that Lai Hanzhong reproduced from Taiwan clan members. This old photo was taken in spring 1926, when ten Taichung Lai clan members returned home for recognition. They posed with Xintian clan members in front of the ancestral temple, with each clan member's name clearly printed on the photo. This moment captured the historical scene of Fujian-Taiwan blood connections and deep friendship.

In that era of poor transportation and difficult travel, even the narrow Taiwan Strait could not prevent Fujian-Taiwan clan members from visiting each other. Today, with shortened distances across the strait, artificial barriers can even less prevent Fujian-Taiwan clan exchange activities. Common ancestors, common memories, and common ancestral temples have forged a common foundation.

**Joint Compilation**

Besides Changhua and Taichung, Taipei, Yilan, Kaohsiung, Nantou, Yunlin, Taoyuan, and other areas also house Xintian Lai clan and collateral descendants who frequently organize group visits to their ancestral homeland. Exchanges and interactions continue constantly.

During Lai Huanjie and Lai Hanzhong's video connection, Lai Jianzhong, a director of Taoyuan Lai Clan Association carrying the "Taiwan Lai Clan Genealogy," specially traveled from neighboring Anhou Township to Banzi Township's Xintian Village.

"Originally, Jing, Liang, and Yong, who migrated from Zhao'an Tianxin to Pinghe County, were brothers. Jing migrated to Anhou Township, Liang to Gezhu in Luxi Township (Gezhu was transferred to Nanjing administration in 1952), and Yong to Banzi Township. Therefore, we are cousins," said Lai Jianzhong. Learning that Xintian Village was compiling the "Xintian Lai Clan Grand Genealogy," the visiting Lai Jianzhong specially came to help, donating the "Taiwan Lai Clan Genealogy." "It contains genealogical connection diagrams of Lai clans who migrated from Fujian to establish themselves in Taiwan. I believe it can help Xintian perfect Taiwan clan members' lineage."

Receiving the "Taiwan Lai Clan Genealogy" from Lai Jianzhong, Lai Hanzhong felt deeply moved. "Since issuing the invitation for joint genealogy compilation, Taiwan clan members have actively responded and strongly supported us." Lai Hanzhong found an image on his phone - an "Announcement for Cooperating with Pinghe Xintian Lai Clan Genealogy Compilation Project" sent by Lai Xinxiong.

On the ninth day of the second lunar month this year, when Lai Xinxiong led Yuanbao Temple believers to participate in the Baosheng Emperor Cultural Festival, learning about Xintian's plan to compile a Fujian-Taiwan comprehensive genealogy, he specially established the "Assistance Committee for Xintian Lai Clan Genealogy Compilation" and issued announcements to 27 Xintian Lai clan organizations in Taiwan, calling for collective material gathering to facilitate early completion of the "Xintian Lai Clan Grand Genealogy."

"Since Bu Long established himself in Xintian, Fujian-Taiwan Lai clan members have flourished. However, with increasingly frequent clan migrations, genealogical materials should be perfected promptly. Therefore, Xintian's compilation of a Fujian-Taiwan comprehensive genealogy is timely, and Taiwan clan members should strongly support and jointly compile it," Lai Xinxiong believes. This Fujian-Taiwan joint village genealogy compilation has profound significance, completely preserving clan bloodline charts, organizing various branches' migration and development trajectories, and establishing long-term clan communication mechanisms, enabling future generations to find their way home.

Since beginning compilation of the "Xintian Lai Clan Grand Genealogy" in 2022, information collectors from over 100 natural villages where Xintian Lai descendants reside have gone door-to-door with forms for registration, while distant clan members have also returned home for registration. Now, with enthusiastic help from Taiwan clan members, Lai Hanzhong expects to complete the Fujian-Taiwan comprehensive genealogy by year-end. "We must send this comprehensive genealogy to Taiwan clan members."

One genealogy volume, two-shore bloodlines; several ink marks, century-long nostalgia. Fujian-Taiwan joint compilation encompasses not only surname origins but also protective memory roots and emotional homecoming paths, reuniting scattered droplets into rivers, transforming historical echoes into future tidal sounds.