The Kang Clan#

Clan Name: Kang, Pronunciation: kàng

Distribution of the Kang Clan#

• Wuwei Commandery: Established in the second year of the Yuanshou era of the Western Han Dynasty (Geng Shen, 121 BCE) in the territory of the former Xiongnu king Xiu Tu. The administrative center was located in Wuwei (present-day Minqin, Gansu), which was also the capital of Liangzhou. This region was historically known as “Xiliang” or “Guzang.” At that time, its jurisdiction included the area west of the Yellow River and east of Wuwei.
• Taiyuan Commandery: Also known as Taiyuan Commandery; it was the capital of Shanxi Province.

Origins of the Kang Clan#

The Kang surname has multiple origins:

1. Derived from place names: Originating from the Kangfu neighborhood in the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period, where people took the name of their residence as their surname.
2. Derived from the Ji surname: From the descendants of San Kang, a prominent official from the State of Wei during the Pre-Qin period; they adopted the name of their ancestor as their surname.
3. Derived from the Ji surname: Originating from the area of Dukang in the State of Yan during the Warring States period; people took the name of their residence as their surname.
4. Derived from the Zi surname: From the descendants of Wei Zi Qi during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period; they adopted the name of their fief as their surname.
5. Changed from another surname: Some surnames were modified, such as the Zuo surname being simplified to Kang.
6. Of Manchu origin: Some surnames were modified during sinicization.
7. Changed due to other reasons: Some families in Yiyang, Henan, changed their surname for various reasons.

Ancestral Figures:

• San Kang, a prominent official.
• Wei Zi Qi.

Migration and Distribution:
The Kang clan has a long history with multiple origins. Although its population does not rank among the top 300 most common surnames in mainland China, it does rank 574th in Taiwan Province. Prominent Kang clans are found in the Wuwei and Taiyuan commanderies. In the southern part of Jining County, Shandong Province, there was an ancient place called Kangfu, which was a significant military hub. Residents and soldiers there adopted the local name as their surname, forming the early Kang clan. According to the text “Fengsu Tong,” the Kang surname was formed by removing the “亻” radical from the Kangfu name. During the Spring and Autumn period, there was an official named Kang in the State of Wei, and his descendants adopted this surname. The historical record “Xingyuan” also mentions Kang Chao, a person from Jingzhao, and Kang Zhenzhen, a high-ranking official.

Present Distribution:
The Kang clan can be found in various regions across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Jingmen (Hubei), Taiyuan and other cities in Shanxi, as well as in Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Inner Mongolia, Guizhou, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Gansu, and Hebei provinces.

Hall Names (Tanghao):

• Wuwei Hall: Established based on the historical significance of the Wuwei area.
• Taiyuan Hall: Established based on the historical significance of the Taiyuan area.

Generational Patrons:

• Henan Kang Clan: “Ping Ling Yi Luo Chang Song Feng Cai Zi Fang Feng Yun Cai Zhi Guang Ju Guo Zhao Hua Yang.”
• Hebei Botou Kang Clan: “Lan Yu Lian Dian Shu Ji Wen Jian Ye Cheng Lu Wan Shi Chun Chuan Zong Yan Shou Yong Ji Chun De Cai Shuang Quan Gui Ru Jin.”

Notable People with the Kang Surname:

• Kang Cangzi: One of the philosophers from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods; his works include “Kang Cangzi.” Kang Cangzi advocated for a quiet and non-interventionist philosophy and also emphasized the importance of selecting capable individuals, promoting education, valuing agriculture, and raising righteous armies.
• Kang Qing: A person from the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties; originally from Yiyang, Henan, and a top scholar who served as an official. He helped the local people by promoting agriculture and was revered by the people of the Northeast, where he is still called the “Sage of the Five Grains.”