殊途同归——从“渤海高氏”一窥汉唐之间的士族Different Roads, Same End: The Gao of Bohai and the Great Clans between Han and Tang

Some questions to spark interest: Do you know any famous historical figures from the "Gao clan of Bohai"? In what time and place was the "Gao clan of Bohai" active? Where were the members of the "Gao clan of Bohai" from? Were they from Bohai? Were they Han/Huaxia? Were they "Chinese"? What other famous great clans in history do you know of? Putting an elephant in a fridge takes three steps. So how many steps does it take to turn a family into an imperial house? From a local notable family, to a renowned great clan, to emperors ruling all under heaven: what circumstances does a great clan meet at each stage of its development, and what choices does it face? In this session we can also discuss questions such as: What kind of family counts as a great clan? What were the foundations on which great clans arose, developed and consolidated their position? In what ways did great clans influence society and history? How did different great clans differ from one another, and how did those differences come about?