The Zhongsun Clan#

Surname: Zhongsun, pronounced as zhòng sūn

Distribution of the Zhongsun Clan#

Gaoyang Commandery: Historically, there were three Gaoyang commanderies:**

1. During the Warring States period, it was known as Gaoyang Yi, also referred to as Gaoyang Xiang, located in the northwest of present-day Qixian County, Henan Province. At the end of the Qin dynasty, Li Shiqi called himself a “Gaoyang drunkard,” referring to this region.
2. During the reign of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han dynasty (147–167 AD), Gaoyang Commandery was re-established, with its capital in Gaoyang (present-day Gaoyang, Hebei Province). Its jurisdiction included the area around Gaoyang County, Hebei Province.
3. During the Northern Wei dynasty, another Gaoyang Commandery was established in Qingzhou, with its jurisdiction in the northwest of present-day Linzi County, Shandong Province. This commandery was abolished in the early years of the Sui dynasty (581 AD).

Origins of the Zhongsun Surname**#

The Zhongsun surname originates from:

1. The Ji family lineage, descending from Ji Yun, the second son of Duke Huan of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period. This branch of the family took its name based on the order of birth.
2. The Jiang family lineage, with Zhongsun Qiu, a high-ranking official of the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period. This branch also took its name based on the order of birth.
3. Another branch of the Ji family, also originating from Zhongsun Qiu of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period, adopted a similar naming convention.

Founding Ancestors of the Surname: Qingfu (Ji Qingfu, Ji Gongzhong, Zhong Qingfu, Mengsunshi), Zhongsun Qiu (Jiang Qiu), and Zhong You (Ji Zhongyou, Zilu). According to “Tongzhi·Shizhu Lüe,” they were descendants of Prince Qing of Lu. Qingfu, also known as Gongzhong, later changed his surname to Mengsunshi to avoid the stigma of killing his ruler. It can be seen that Zhongsun, Mengsun, and the related surnames Mengshi and Zhongshi all originated from the same family, with their common ancestor being Prince Qing of Lu. Tracing back to their roots, they were descendants of King Wen of Zhou. Qingfu was the younger brother of Duke Zhuang of Lu and held significant power in the state. After Duke Zhuang’s death, Qingfu killed Duke Ban and installed Duke Min as the new ruler. However, Duke Min did not meet Qingfu’s expectations, so Qingfu sent people to assassinate him. At that time, Qingfu ruled Lu alone. Some of his descendants combined the title “Wangfu” with the suffix “sun” to form the Zhongsun surname.

Migration and Distribution: The Zhongsun surname is an ancient Han Chinese surname. It does not appear in the top 300 surnames in mainland China or Taiwan Province. In the Song dynasty’s version of the “Hundred Family Surnames,” it was ranked 430th. The prominent Zhongsun clan resided in Gaoyang Commandery (present-day Linzi, Shandong Province). The Zhongsun surname is not among the top 100 surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. The character “Zhong” means “second son,” which was commonly used in the names of the younger brothers in ancient times (the eldest brother was often called “Bo,” the third brother “Shu,” and the fourth brother “Ji”). It is said that descendants of Xi Zhong adopted the Zhongsun surname. During the Spring and Autumn period, Lu was located within the territory of present-day Shandong Province. Therefore, the founding ancestor of the Zhongsun surname is Qingfu.

Notes on the Surname’s History: The Zhongsun surname may be an ancient Han Chinese surname, but it does not rank among the top 300 surnames in mainland China or Taiwan Province. In the Song dynasty’s “Hundred Family Surnames,” it was ranked 430th. The prominent Zhongsun clan was based in Gaoyang Commandery (present-day Linzi, Shandong Province). The character “Zhong” signifies “second son,” a common prefix in the names of younger brothers in ancient Chinese culture. Some descendants of Xi Zhong also adopted the Zhongsun surname. During the Spring and Autumn period, Qingfu, the son of Duke Huan of Lu, adopted the name Zhongsun, and his descendants split into two branches: Mengsunshi and Zhongsunshi, as a way to show respect for Duke Huan’s royal lineage. Another branch of the Zhongsun clan descended from Song Zhuanggong, whose son also had the name Zhong. A small portion of the Zhongsun lineage comes from Zhong You, a disciple of Confucius. The prominent Zhongsun clan resided in Gaoyang Commandery (present-day Linzi, Shandong Province).

Hall Names:

• Gaoyang Hall: Named after the prominent Zhongsun family from Gaoyang Commandery.
• Ganli Hall: During the Spring and Autumn period, Zhongsun Huo, a high-ranking official of Lu, accompanied Duke Zhao of Lu on a visit to the state of Chu. Unable to perform the rituals due to illness, he explained the rituals to Duke Zhao. Before his death, he said, “Rituals are the foundation of human society; without them, one cannot properly live in the world.” The Zhongsun clan is thus named after him.

Notable People with the Zhongsun Surname:

• Zhongsun Qiu: A person from the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period who served as a high-ranking official under Duke Huan.
• Zhongsun Mie: Also known as Meng Xianzi, a person from the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period and considered a virtuous official.