SHIJIAZHUANG, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A family tree of a high-ranking official of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was discovered in north China's Hebei Province, local authorities said Monday.
Wang Wen was a ministerial-level official and once served as a grand secretary of the Ming court. The family tree was found in a villager's home in the city of Xinji, Wang's hometown.
The family tree recorded the history of Wang Wen's family for more than 580 years, according to the cultural heritage protection department of Xinji.
The family tree consisted of two thread-bound manuscripts and a colored painting. The manuscripts recorded the relationship between members of the family with neat and clear handwriting. The silk painting, measuring 2.5 meters in length and 1.2 meters in width, depicted the scene of Wang Wen going to court.
Researchers said the family tree would be an important and reliable material to study the history of Wang's family, as well as the customs, history and family inheritance in Hebei.