The Gōngyáng Clan#

Clan Name: Gōngyáng, pronounced as gōng yáng

Regions Where the Gōngyáng Clan is Found#

Dunqiu Commandery: Established in the second year of the Taishi era of the Western Jin Dynasty (266 AD), its administrative center was located in Dunqiu (southwest of present-day Qingfeng, Henan Province). It governed four counties and its jurisdiction corresponded to the areas of Qingfeng, Puyang, Neihuang, Nale, and Fan County in Henan. The commandery was abolished during the Northern Qi Dynasty.

Origins of the Gōngyáng Clan#

The Gōngyáng clan has a simple origin. One theory suggests that it stems from the Ji surname, with the clan name being derived from the name of an ancestor. According to the “Shangyou Lu,” the Gōngyáng family descended from Gongsun Yangru of the State of Lu during the Pre-Qin period, and they adopted the name of their grandfather as their clan title. During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a distinguished figure from Lu named Gongsun Yangru; his descendants took the “Gōngyáng” portion of their grandfather’s name as their clan name.

Architect of the Clan Name

Gongsun Yangru was a highly respected and talented individual in the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period. His descendants passed down the “Gōngyáng” name from generation to generation. However, over time, some members of the Gōngyáng clan simplified their surname to “Gōng.” The “Gōng” surname was a derivative of various other surnames such as Gōngliang, Gōngjian, Gōngming, Gongsun, and Gōngyang, most of whom were descendants of nobility. Therefore, Gongsun Yangru is considered the founding ancestor of the Gōngyáng clan.

Distribution of the Clan

The Gōngyáng clan does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. The Gōngyáng surname originates from the Ji surname. As mentioned in the “Shangyou Lu,” the Gōngyáng family descended from Gongsun Yangru of the State of Lu and adopted the name of their grandfather as their clan title. The “Tongzhi·Shizú Lüe·Yizì Wéi Shì” also states that Gongsun Yangru from Lu was highly talented during the Spring and Autumn period, and his descendants adopted the “Gōngyáng” portion of his name as their clan name. A notable figure with the Gōngyáng surname from this period was Gōngyang Gao from the Warring States period, who is traditionally considered the author of the “Gongyang Zhuan” commentary on the “Spring and Autumn Annals.” Some scholars believe that the “Gongyang Zhuan” was initially only an oral tradition and was written down during the reign of Emperor Jing of the Western Han Dynasty by Gōngyang Shou, a great-grandson of Gongyang Gao, and Hu Musheng (styled Zidu) from Qi. According to the “Shangyou Lu,” the Gōngyáng clan’s center of prevalence was in Dunqiu, in the southwest of present-day Qingfeng County, Hebei Province.

Hall Names

“Chunqiu Hall”: During the Warring States period, Gongyang Gao from Qi was a disciple of Confucius’ student Bu Zixia and studied the “Spring and Autumn Annals,” compiling the “Gongyang Zhuan” commentary. His great-grandson, Gongyang Shou, and his disciple Dulu organized and published the manuscript. During the Han Dynasty, He Xiu wrote additional interpretations, making the “Gongyang Zhuan” widely known. Consequently, the Gōngyáng clan adopted “Chunqiu” as their hall name.

Notable People with the Gōngyáng Surname**#

Gōngyang Gao: A renowned scholar from the Warring States period, a native of Qi, who carried forward Confucianism. His teachings, recorded in the “Gongyang Zhuan” (also known as “Chunqiu Gongyang Zhuan” or “Gōngyang Chunqiu”), focused on interpreting the “Spring and Autumn Annals.” Initially, these teachings were only passed down orally; it was Gongyang Shou, a great-grandson of Gongyang Gao, who gathered scholars to compile the “Gongyang Zhuan” in written form during the early Han Dynasty.