The Yǎng Clan#

Surname: Yǎng, pronounced as “yǎng”

Distribution of the Yǎng Clan#

According to “Junwang Baijiaxing” (A Record of the Origins of Surnames and Their Regions of Origin), the Yǎng clan originated from Ruanan Commandery. Additionally, “Xingshimo Lüe” (A Brief Study of Surnames) mentions that the Yǎng clan also had its origin in Henan, Ruanan, and Qiantang. Ruanan Commandery was established during the Western Han Dynasty and corresponds to the area around present-day Luoyang, Henan Province. Qiantang Commandery was established during the Qin Dynasty and is located in the vicinity of present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

Origins of the Yǎng Clan#

There are two theories regarding the origin of the Yǎng surname:

1. The Yǎng surname originates from the descendants of Yang Yan, a minister during the reign of Emperor Shun in ancient times. Yang Yan was highly skilled in music. He modified the se (an ancient musical instrument with eight strings) to have twenty-five strings, which was a significant invention. His descendants adopted his ancestral name as their surname.

2. Another theory suggests that the Yǎng surname stems from the Ying clan, specifically from the descendants of Gongzi Yin, the son of Emperor Hui of Qin. In ancient times, the right half of the character “Yang” was used to represent the character “Yin.” The descendants of Gongzi Yin added the character “ren” (person) to the ancestral name, resulting in the Yǎng surname.

Progenitor of the Surname

Yang Yan is considered the progenitor of the Yǎng clan. According to “Lüshi Chunqiu,” Yang Yan was a descendant of Shun. Shun was a renowned tribal leader in ancient times, and his tribe worshipped the bull and phoenix totems. Yang Yan was a minister under Shun who was highly skilled in music. It is said that he invented and modified many musical instruments, particularly those with strings. His descendants adopted his name as their surname, which is the origin of the modern Yǎng clan. Therefore, the descendants of the Yǎng clan regard Yang Yan as their progenitor.

Migration and Distribution

The Yǎng surname does not rank among the top 100 surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. The Yǎng clan has a long history. According to “Wanxing Tongpu” (A Comprehensive Record of Surnames), as early as the Han Dynasty (2000 years ago), there was an outstanding ancestor named Yang Zhi who became known for his position as an imperial censor. “Xingshimo Lüe” also indicates that since the late Tang Dynasty, clans with the Yǎng surname have existed in the Qiantang and Wuxing areas of Zhejiang, and they have become prominent families within this region. These prominent families resided in Ruanan Commandery (east of present-day Ruanan County, Henan Province).

Hall Names

Wuzhu Hall: During the Song Dynasty, Yang Xin was a person who dedicated himself to learning and practicing what he believed in. At the age of 50, he mourned for his mother with great piety. He carried soil on his back to build her grave and built a house beside it to guard it. White bamboo grew beside the grave, and crows nested on the bamboo. This is historically regarded as an auspicious sign known as “merciful crows and white bamboo.”