The Dou Clan#

Clan Name: Dou (Dǔ) Pronunciation: dǔ

Distribution of the Dou Clan#

• Henan Commandery: Established during the reign of Emperor Gao of Han, corresponding to the area around present-day Luoyang City, Henan Province.
• Hedong Commandery: Established during the Qin Dynasty, corresponding to the area around Xia County, east of the Yellow River in present-day Shanxi Province.

Origin of the Dou Clan#

The Dou surname has a pure origin. One theory suggests it derives from the Ji (Ji) clan, originating from the state of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn Period. A prominent official named Kou (Kǒu) from Zheng was one of the three outstanding ministers, along with Shu Zhan (Shu Zhān) and Shi Shu (Shi Shū), known as the “Three Saints.” Kou was granted the fief of Dou (Dou), which is located in the area around present-day Fangcheng County, Henan Province. Therefore, he was also called Kou Bo (Kǒu Bo), Kou Kou (Dǔ Kou), or Dou Shu (Dǔ Shū). His descendants adopted the name of the fief, “Dou,” as their surname.

Ancestor of the Dou Clan The ancestor of the Dou clan is Kou Shu (Dǔ Shū), a member of the noble family of the state of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn Period. Kou Shu was a descendant of King Wen of Zhou, a sage ruler. According to historical records, the Dou surname originated from the Ji clan; “Dou” was originally a place name and the fief of the official Kou Bo. His descendants took the name of the fief as their surname, and the clan has flourished in Henan. The Zuo Zhuan (Zuo Zhuan) mentions Kou Shu from Zheng, while the Gu Jin Shi Xing Mu Bian (Gu Jin Shi Xing Mu Bian) also refers to him. Interestingly, descendants of Dou Ao from the state of Chu also bore the Dou surname. At that time, the state of Zheng was located in the central part of present-day Henan Province, south of the Yellow River, with the fief of Dou situated in the area around Fangcheng County, which is considered the birthplace of the Dou clan. The prominent members of the clan resided in the Hedong Commandery, which is now north of Xia County, Shanxi Province. Therefore, Kou Shu is revered as the ancestor of the Dou clan.

Migration and Distribution The Dou surname is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. During the Spring and Autumn Period, an official named Kou was granted the fief of Dou in the state of Zheng (located in present-day Fangcheng County, Henan Province) and was granted the title of Bo (Bo). His descendants adopted this place name as their surname, and thus the Dou surname was established.

Hall Names (Tang Hao)

• Zhi Bing Tang (Zhi Bing Tang): During the Ming Dynasty, Dou Yunxi served as the governor of Changsha and led local troops to suppress bandits. Later, he was appointed as the governor of Hubei. He defeated a bandit leader named Li Jin, who had an army of over 300,000 men. His military prowess earned him the reputation of being an expert in military strategy.

Common Couplets for Dou Clan Ancestral Shrines

• Four-Character Couplets:
  • “The clan thrived in Zheng; virtue spread throughout Yidu.” (The Dou clan flourished in the state of Zheng; their virtues were known throughout Yidu.)
  • This couplet refers to Kou Shu, the ancestor of the Dou clan, and the widespread presence of Dou people in Zheng during the Spring and Autumn Period, as well as the benevolent governance of Dou during the Ming Dynasty.
• Seven-Character Couplets:
  • “Loyalty and integrity were recognized in Jiangsu and Zhejiang; the Dou clan originated in the Spring and Autumn Period.”
  • This couplet mentions Dou Jian from the Yuan Dynasty, a talented poet and artist from Jintan. During the Yuan Dynasty, he served as an advisor in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang provincial government. When the general Qing Tong led troops to fight against the rebels in Songjiang, Dou Jian was captured but remained unyielding and was killed. It also refers to Kou Bo from Zheng, whose descendants adopted the surname Dou.