The Nangong Clan#

Surname: Nangong, pronounced as nán gōng

Distribution of the Nangong Clan#

Henan Commandery: During the Qin Dynasty, it was known as Sanchuan Commandery. In the second year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (Bingshen, 205 BCE), it was renamed Henan Commandery, with its administrative center in Luoyang (present-day Luoyang, Henan). At that time, its jurisdiction included the areas south of the Yellow River in Henan, the lower reaches of the Luoshui and Yishui rivers, the upper reaches of the Shuangji and Jialu rivers, and the Yuanyang area north of the Yellow River. It governed twenty-two counties, roughly corresponding to the regions of Mengjin, Yanshi, Gongyi, Xingyang, Yuanyang, Zhongmu, Zhengzhou, Xinzheng, Xinmi, Linru, Ruyang, Yichuan, and Luoyang in present-day Henan Province.

Lu Commandery: Also known as the State of Lu or Donglu Commandery. This refers to the area of Zixian in present-day Shandong Province (Zizhen, Ling County, Dezhou, Shandong).

Nangong: This refers to Nangong City, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Xingtai City in present-day Hebei Province.

Origins of the Nangong Clan#

The Nangong surname originates from:

1. The Ji surname, descending from Zhongsun Min, a disciple of Confucius during the late Spring and Autumn period. This branch of the clan took its name from the place where they lived.
2. The Ji surname, originating from the residence of Que, a high-ranking official of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period. This branch also took its name from the place where they lived.
3. The Ji surname, descending from Nangong Zi, one of King Wen of Zhou’s four close friends. This branch took its name from the title of the ancestor.
4. The Ji surname, originating from an official position; this branch took its name from the official title.

Founding Ancestors of the Clan: Nangong Kuo, Nangong Jingshu, and Nangong Que. According to the historical records in “Shangyou Lu,” the Nangong clan traces its origins to Nangong Zi, one of King Wen of Zhou’s four close friends. The historical texts “Shiben” and “Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Confucius’ Disciples” suggest that the Nangong surname is related to Nangong Min of the State of Lu, who lived in the area of Nangong. Additionally, “Tongzhi: A Brief Account of Clans” mentions that the Nangong clan may also be descended from Meng Xi Zi or Nangong Zi, another of King Wen of Zhou’s four friends. Meng Xi Zi, a nobleman of the State of Lu, was originally named Zhongsun Min and adopted the name Nangong because he lived in that area. Both Nangong Kuo and Nangong Min were descendants of the Ji lineage and are considered the founding ancestors of the Nangong clan.

Migration and Distribution: The Nangong clan is a typical Han Chinese surname. It does not rank among the top three hundred surnames in mainland China and is not listed in the top hundred surnames in Taiwan Province. The prominent families of this clan originated from Henan Commandery and Donglu Commandery. The Nangong surname does not rank among the top hundred surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. The Nangong clan is derived from the Ji surname. According to historical records, the earliest origin of the Nangong clan can be traced to Nangong Zi, one of King Wen of Zhou’s four close friends. There are other theories: one suggests that Meng Xi Zi of the State of Lu adopted the name Nangong because he lived in Nangong during the Spring and Autumn period; another theory suggests that Nangong Yue of the State of Lu also adopted the name Nangong because he lived in that area. According to “Shangyou Lu,” the Nangong clan originated in Donglu Commandery (present-day Shandong Province) and has a history of over 2000 years. Prominent Nangong clans are found in Henan Commandery (30 miles east of present-day Luoyang, Henan) and Donglu Commandery (established as the State of Lu during the early Western Han Dynasty and later renamed Lu Commandery during the Wei and Jin dynasties, corresponding to the present-day Qufu and Sishui areas in Shandong Province). In Chuanhu Farm, Nanpo Village, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, there are several thousand people with the Nangong surname, who migrated there during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty from Hongtong County, Shanxi. In Nanying Village, Pingyu County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, there are more than 3000 people with the Nangong surname, who migrated from Xihua County, Henan, and still preserve their ancestral graves and tombstones.

Clan Halls:

• Henan Hall: Established based on the clan’s historical roots in Henan.
• Donglu Hall: Established based on the clan’s historical roots in Donglu Commandery (also known as the State of Lu Hall or Rencheng Hall).
• Nangong Hall: Established based on the clan’s historical roots in Nangong.

Notable People with the Nangong Surname:

• Nangong Kuo: (Dates of birth and death unknown), also known as Nangong Zi. A renowned sage of the Western Zhou period.
• Nangong Shi: (Dates of birth and death unknown), also known as Nangong?, with the courtesy name Zirong, also known as Nangrong. A famous disciple of Confuc