Dongguo Family Name#

Family Name: Dongguo, Pronunciation: dōng guō

Distribution of the Dongguo Family Name#

Jinan Commandery: During the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang established the state of Jinan. After the chaos caused by the seven warring states of Jingchu, it was renamed Jinan Commandery, with its administrative center at Dongpingling (now Zhangqiu, Shandong). At that time, its jurisdiction included the area around present-day Linzi City, Shandong Province. During the Jin Dynasty, the capital was moved to Licheng (now Jinan, Shandong). In the Northern Wei Dynasty, it was renamed Qizhou. In the mid-Song Dynasty, it was promoted to the status of a prefecture (Jinan Prefecture), and during the Yuan and Qing dynasties, it remained a prefecture. During the Republic of China period, the prefecture system was abolished, and the area became the capital city of Shandong Province.

Dongjun Commandery: Dongjun Commandery was established in the fifth year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s reign (Gengshen, 242 BCE) on the territory of the former Wei state, encompassing the areas of Daming Prefecture in Hebei, Dongchang Prefecture in Shandong, and the region west of Changqing County.

Origin of the Dongguo Family Name#

The Dongguo family name originates from:

1. Those descended from the Jiang clan, specifically from Dongguo Daifu, a nobleman of the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period. This origin is based on the use of an official title as a surname.
2. Those descended from the Jiang clan, originating from the state of Dongguo during the same period, with the surname coming from the name of the state itself.

Ancestors of the Family Name

• Ji Chang (King Wen of Zhou)
• Ji Guo Shu (Duke of Xiguo)
• Ji Guo Zhong (Duke of Dongguo)
• Jiang Xiaobai (Duke Huan of Qi)

According to tradition, noblemen from the state of Qi during the Zhou Dynasty settled in various regions such as Dongguo, Nanguo, Xiguo, and Beiguo, and each took the name of their respective areas as their surname. Ji Huan’s descendants lived near the eastern gate of Linzi’s outer city, which was historically referred to as “Guo”; hence the name Dongguo Daifu. Later, they adopted Dongguo as their surname. As recorded in the “Xingpu” (Genealogy Books), the descendants of the Duke of Qi took the name of their residence as their surname. Therefore, the descendants of the Dongguo family regard Duke Huan of Qi as the progenitor of the Dongguo surname.

Migration and Distribution

The Dongguo family is an ancient Han Chinese surname, but its total population does not rank among the top 300 most common surnames in mainland China. It is not listed in the “Hundred Family Surnames” in Taiwan Province and ranks 468th in the Song Dynasty version of this list. Prominent families of the Dongguo clan originated from Jinan Commandery and Dongjun Commandery. The Dongguo surname is not among the top 100 surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. During the Spring and Autumn period, a branch of the Qi royal family lived around the city walls, which were called “Guo.” The descendants of this family took the names Dongguo, Nanguo, Xiguo, and Beiguo based on their residential locations. The Qi royal family descended from the Yan Emperor, who worshipped the ox and phoenix totems, representing agricultural beliefs. By the time the Dongguo surname emerged, these descendants were still skilled in agriculture and lived near the city walls, as the farmland was located outside the city. The Dongguo clan’s prominence comes from Jinan Commandery.

Hall Names

• Jinan Hall: Established based on the family’s prominence in Jinan.
• Dongjun Hall: Established based on the family’s prominence in Dongjun Commandery, also known as Wuyang Hall.

Notable People with the Dongguo Surname

• Dongguo Ya: A minister of the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period. He was known for his integrity and stubbornness; he would speak out against injustice regardless of the ruler’s mood, often at the risk of execution. His boldness brought many benefits to the state and its people.
• Dongguo Shunzi: A virtuous scholar of the Warring States period. He practiced Taoism, remained pure and respectful, and was a teacher of Tian Fangzi.
• Dongguo Yannian: A Daoist practitioner of the Eastern Han Dynasty who specialized in the “Fangzhong technique.” The “Book of the Later Han” mentions Cao Cao’s curiosity about these practices: “Gan Shi, Dongguo Yannian, and Feng Junda were all alchemists who could control women using certain techniques. Some drank urine, others hung themselves upside down to conserve energy, and they avoided extreme statements. Gan Shi and Yuan Fang (also known as Zuo Ci) were both captured by Cao Cao and forced to perform these techniques for him.”