Venerating the spirit tablets is the duty of the eldest son and eldest grandson, so if a family has no male offspring expedients such as adoption are necessary to ensure that family ancestors are not deprived of their due.
男有「嗣」，女有「歸」家中的長子、長孫則是牌位的義務奉祀人，所以萬一家中沒有男孩，為免斷絕祖宗的血脈及永生，只得採權宜措施，以收養、過繼子嗣方式，立嗣擔負祭祀之責。