The Mo Family Name#

Family Name: Mo, Pronunciation: mò

Distribution of the Mo Family Name#

Liangjun: Also known as the State of Liang or Liangguo Jun, it was established in the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BCE). Before that, it was called Dangjun, with its administrative center in Huaiyang (now Shangqiu, Henan). It governed eight counties, including the areas of present-day Shangqiu, Yucheng, Minquan in Henan, as well as Dangshan in Anhui and Caoxian in Shandong.

Origins of the Mo Family Name#

The Mo (Mò) family name has the following origins:

1. Derived from the Jiang family name, stemming from Mo Ru, a teacher of Yu the Great, a descendant of the Yan Emperor. It is a common practice to adopt the name of one's ancestor as the family name. It is said that Yu the Great sought guidance on water control from Mo Ru. After Yu's son, Qi, established the first slave-owning state of China, he appointed Mo Ru's son, Jiang Taichu, as the ruler of the State of Guzhu. Jiang Taichu then adopted his father's name as his own, passing it down through generations as the Mo or Mo Tai family name. Some members later simplified the name to just "Mo." According to the historical record "Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue," "The Mo family name originally came from the Mo Tai family name and was later simplified to Mo."

2. Derived from the Mo Tai family name (as suggested above), which was a descendant of the ruler of Guzhu during the Shang Dynasty and later simplified to Mo.

3. Originated from the Mongolian people, who adopted this name during the process of sinicization.

4. Originated from the Manchu people, who also adopted this name during sinicization.

5. Originated from the Daur people, who adopted this name during the process of sinicization.

6. Derived from the Zi family name, stemming from Mo Qu, a philosopher from the early Warring States period, and is another example of adopting the name of an ancestor.

Founding Fathers of the Family Name

Mo Ru, Mo Taichu Yun (Bo Yi), Mo Taichu Zhi (Shu Qi), and Mo Qu. According to "Qianfu Lun," Mo Ru's descendants adopted the name Mo. When Yu the Great left home to manage water control, his daughter invited an elderly man named Mo Ru to teach him. Mo Ru advised Yu, "You should learn the way of governing a country; benevolence is the treasure of a ruler, and policies should be based on benevolence. Ritual is the foundation of a state; without ritual, benevolence cannot be implemented. The people are the foundation of a state, and governing a country requires the will of the people." After teaching Yu for three years, Mo Ru also recommended another wise man, Master Xiguo, to him. Therefore, the descendants of Mo Ru are regarded as the founding fathers of the Mo family name.

Migration and Distribution

The Mo family name is an ancient Han Chinese surname. Although it does not rank among the top 300 most common surnames in mainland China, it ranks 750th in Taiwan Province. The prominent Mo clans originated from Liangjun. The Mo family name is not among the top 100 most common surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. There are two theories about its origin: one is based on the record in "Qianfu Lun," which states that Mo Ru's descendants adopted the name Mo. Another theory suggests that it evolved from the Mo Tai family name. According to "Xingkao," the Mo family name changed from Mo Tai. The ruler of Guzhu during the Shang Dynasty (located in the area west of present-day Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province) is also mentioned in historical records. Guzhu was a vassal state of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties and ceased to exist after the fall of the Zhou Dynasty in 256 BCE. The brothers Bo Yi and Shu Qi, who refused to eat food provided by the Zhou rulers and starved to death out of principle, were descendants of the ruler of Guzhu. Their names were Mo Taichu Yun and Mo Taichu Zhi, respectively. Some descendants of the Mo Taichu family adopted the name Mo.

Clan Halls

The Liangjun Hall: Established in honor of the Mo family's origins in Liangjun, also known as the Liangguo Hall or Huaiyang Hall.

Notable People with the Mo Family Name

Mozi: Born Mo Zhai (around 479–381 BCE), a thinker and statesman during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and the founder of the Mohist school of philosophy.