First Ancestor View

In Family Tree, use the First Ancestor view to enter and display Chinese clan genealogies from jiapu records. This view screen is also useful for cultures that calculate tribal, clan, and other family affiliations using a similar direct, paternal relationship back to an honored ancestor. For more information, see How do I use the First Ancestor view in Family Tree?

A jiapu is a multigenerational family record maintained by a Chinese clan. The genealogy typically begins with a description of the first ancestor—who he was, where he lived, what he did—and continues with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on.

Yes. If you do not have Chinese ancestors, you are certainly welcome to experiment with the First Ancestor view. Realize, however, that the First Ancestor view is not intended to be a general-purpose descendancy chart.

The clan path is calculated using rules specific to the Chinese jiapu. This means it follows your father's paternal line to calculate a clan path and display the connection. The First Ancestor view will not find a clan path between you and any of your other ancestors, even those in your direct line.

The first ancestor is the first, originating member of the clan. The first ancestor is added to the top of the view screen. You can then display or add his descendants going down the chart.

The person of focus is the person whose ancestors are displayed on the chart. It is likely you. You can display or add your ancestors going up the chart.

The clan path follows the paternal line between the person of focus and the first ancestor. It appears after all of the generations between the first ancestor and person of focus are entered. You will see it as a yellow highlight on the tiles of each person in the path.

By default, the yellow clan path shown on the First Ancestor view follows the direct patrilineal line between the first ancestor at the top and the person of focus at the bottom.


If the clan path does not show, it is probably for one of these reasons:

• The person of focus does not yet have a first ancestor selected in Family Tree. You have to add the first ancestor to every person in a family, even if that person has the same first ancestor.
• The Family Tree does not yet contain all of the generations between the person of focus and the first ancestor.
• The relationship between the person of focus and the selected first ancestor is not patrilineal (in the paternal line). To change the clan path to show adoptions, follow this process:
  
  
  1. Add the parents who should be in the clan path to Family Tree.
  2. Select the parents who should be in the clan path as the preferred parents.
  3. Add the first ancestor to the person who should be in the clan.
  4. Return to the original person of focus.

For detailed instructions, see How do I correct the clan path in Family Tree?


To see how you are related to any ancestors who are not in your paternal line, click the person's name, and then click View Relationship in the side sheet.

The fastest way to return yourself as the person of focus is to click Home: .

When you first switch to the First Ancestor view, a pop-up helps you enter your first ancestor. If it does not come up, use one of these options:

1. Make sure the correct person of focus is shown at the bottom of the screen.
2. Select an option to add the first ancestor:
   
   
   • At the top where the first ancestor's name should appear, click Add First Ancestor.
   • On the person of focus, click +, and click Add First Ancestor.
   • Click the Options button, and click Add First Ancestor. If the person already has one first ancestor, click More. Then click Add First Ancestor.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen.