Chinese Family Tree Maker (族谱 / 家谱)
In short: Build a Chinese family tree (族谱, jiapu) in your browser, free and with no signup. Type names in Chinese characters, pinyin or both — e.g. 李明 Li Ming — note each person's generation name (字辈) in their story, and lay the lineage out as a descendant chart from the founding ancestor. Share a link with relatives overseas and download a PDF to print; large wall posters come with Plus or a $7.99 Poster Pass.
How to use it
- Pick Templates → Descendant chart and click the top box for the founding ancestor (始祖).
- Type names as 汉字 + pinyin, e.g. 王建国 Wang Jianguo; put the generation name (字辈) and home village (籍贯) in the life story.
- Add sons, daughters and their spouses generation by generation.
- Share the link in your family WeChat group, or Print poster → PDF.
Made for Chinese names
Chinese characters display and print correctly on screen and in PNG/PDF downloads (non-Latin posters are rendered as a high-resolution image so every character shows). Search finds people by characters or pinyin.
- Characters + pinyin in one name field
- Generation names (字辈 / 辈分) recorded in each person's story
- Birthplace and ancestral home (籍贯) fields
- Descendant layout that follows a family line down the generations
族谱 vs. a Western family tree
A traditional jiapu follows a surname line down from a founding ancestor, often with a generation poem that gives each generation a shared character. A Western pedigree chart goes up from one person to their ancestors. This tool does both: use the Descendant template for a 族谱, or start from yourself to trace both parents' sides.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write names in Chinese characters?
Yes. Names, places and stories accept any language. Chinese characters show in the chart, in share links and in downloads.
How do I record generation names (字辈)?
Add the generation character or poem line to each person's Life story. It shows when relatives tap the person in a shared link.
Can relatives in China open the share link?
The free link works in any modern browser and can be pasted into WeChat; it contains the tree itself, so it does not depend on an account.
Related templates
Descendant Chart Maker
Make a descendant chart: a couple, all their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with partners. Great for reunions. Edit online, print or share free.
Free Editable Family Tree Template
Free editable family tree templates: 3–5 generations, kids, descendant and blended layouts. Fill in online, add photos, download a PDF or share a link.
Printable Family Tree Poster (PDF)
Turn your family tree into a printable poster PDF: Letter, A4, Tabloid, A3, 18×24, 24×36 and 36×48 inch. Vector quality, photos, four styles. Letter/A4 free.