The Gou Family#

Surname: Gou, pronounced as “gōu”

Distribution of the Gou Family#

• Pingyang Commandery: Established during the Three Kingdoms period by the state of Wei. Located in the southwestern area of present-day Linfen County, Shanxi Province.
• Bohai Commandery: Established during the Western Han Dynasty. Located along the coast of the Bohai Bay in present-day Hebei and Liaoning provinces.

Origin of the Gou Surname#

There are four theories regarding the origin of the Gou surname:

1. Deriving from an official title: According to the “Shan Hai Jing” (Classic of Mountains and Seas), there was a country called “Kunmin,” where the people bore the surname Gou. This is considered the earliest origin of the surname. The character for “Gou” can also be written as “Jiu.” The first mention of the Gou surname appears in the “Shan Hai Jing”: “In the country of Kunmin, the people had the surname Gou.” It is also said that one of Emperor Shaohao’s sons, named Chong, was posthumously honored as the “Mu Zheng” (the god of wood) and was one of the five elements deities responsible for the life, aging, sickness, and death of all things; he was known as Goumang. His descendants adopted the surname Gou. During the Southern Song Dynasty, to avoid the name of Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, the surname was changed to “Jiu” (pronounced the same as “Gou”) or other variants.
2. Also derived from an official title: As mentioned earlier, according to the “Lu Shi,” Chong, the third son of the Shaohao family, served as the “Gou Mang” and was one of the five elements deities in charge of trees. His descendants used his official title as their surname.
3. Changed to avoid an imperial taboo: During the Southern Song Dynasty, to avoid offending Emperor Gaozong Zhao Gou, some members of the Gou family changed their surname to “Jiu.” Some even added the radical for “grass” to the character, resulting in the surname “Gou.”
4. Change from an ancient minority ethnic group: During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was an ethnic group called the “Jiu Long” in the Southern Xiongnu. After migrating to the Central Plains, they assimilated and adopted the surname “Gou” (pronounced “gōu”).

Founder of the Surname: Zi Chong (Goumang).

The Gou family is an ancient one. Although they later changed their surname to the similar-looking “Jiu,” they have always pronounced it as “Gou.” The reason for the name change is difficult to determine today. According to the “Lu Shi,” Zi Chong (Goumang) is considered the founder of the Gou surname.

Distribution and Migration: The Gou surname is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. It originated from the ancient state of Kunmin and has been in use throughout history. It is said that Emperor Shaohao had a son named Chong, who was posthumously honored as the god of wood and was responsible for the growth and development of all things. His descendants took his title as their surname. During the Southern Song Dynasty, some members of the Gou family changed their surname to avoid Emperor Gaozong Zhao Gou’s name.

Common Couplets for the Gou Family Ancestral Hall:

• Four-line couplet:
  “The surname originates from the Mu Zheng; the family’s prestige stems from Pingyang.”
  (This couplet refers to the origin of the Gou surname and its historical association with Pingyang Commandery.)

• Six-line couplet:
  “Compilation of the Qingcheng region’s natural history; the imperial censor’s loyalty is celebrated.”
  (This couplet acknowledges the contributions of historical figures from the Gou family.)

• Seven-line couplet:
  “Everything is in orderly arrangement for prosperity; the territory endures for thousands of years.”
  (This couplet emphasizes the family’s heritage and longevity.)

The Gou family has a long history and is traditionally associated with Pingyang Commandery (in the southwestern area of present-day Linfen County, Shanxi Province). Zi Chong (Goumang) is revered as the founder of the Gou surname.