Jiang Dynasty#

Surname: Jiang, pronounced as jiāng

Distribution of the Jiang Surname#

1. Tianshui Commandery: Established during the Western Han Dynasty in Pingxiang (northwest of present-day Tongwei, Gansu); moved to Shangguizhi during the Western Jin Dynasty (present-day Tianshui City, Gansu Province).
2. Guanghan Commandery: Initially governed from Chengxiang (east of present-day Jintang, Sichuan) during the Western Han Dynasty; moved to Luoxian (north of present-day Guanghan, Sichuan) during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
3. Henan Commandery: Located in the area around present-day Luoyang City, Henan Province.
4. Weichuan Commandery: Descendants of Jiang Ziya; the exact distribution is unknown.

According to the local records of Ganyu County, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, the Jiang family residing in Shiqiao Town are descendants of Jiang Ziya.

Origin of the Jiang Surname#

There are three theories regarding the origin of the Jiang surname:

1. From the Yan Emperor (Shennong): According to "Shuowen Jiezi," "Shennong lived by the Jiang River and adopted its name as his surname." The Yan Emperor, also known as Shennong, is one of the most ancient figures in Chinese history. Since Shennong was born by the Jiang River, this river became the source of the Jiang surname. Therefore, the birthplace of the Yan Emperor is also considered the origin of the Jiang family.
2. From the Huan surname: As recorded in "Tongzhi·Shizu Lue," some individuals with the Huan surname changed it to Jiang during the Shangyuan period of the Tang Dynasty.
3. From other ethnic groups: Various ethnic groups, including the Manchu, Dong, Yao, Yi, Mongolian, Tujiacun, Bai, Russian, and Korean, have adopted the Jiang surname.

Migration and Distribution

The Jiang surname originates from the ancient Yan Emperor. According to historical records, the Jiang family is a descendant of the Yan Emperor and has one of the oldest Chinese surnames. During the Spring and Autumn period, there were also the Jiang Rong, who lived in Guazhou (west of present-day Dunhuang, Gansu) and later migrated eastward, joining the state of Jin around 638 BC. The Jiang family developed into a prominent clan in the Guandong region (east of present-day Lingbao County, Henan) before the Western Han Dynasty. They later migrated to Guanzhong (present-day Gansu) to increase the population there. During the Tang and Song dynasties, the Jiang surname spread to Hebei, Henan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui, Shandong, and Guangdong. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, members of the Jiang family moved to Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hunan, Guizhou, and Hubei. According to family genealogies, during the Ming Dynasty, a certain Jiang Shiliang moved to Longxi County, Zhangzhou, Fujian, where his descendants thrived. Later generations migrated to Yandun Township, Lufeng, Guangdong, and some even went overseas. The Jiang surname currently ranks 60th among the most common surnames in China.

Hall Names (Tanghao): Common hall names for the Jiang family include "Tianshui," "Longtai," "Jiashe," "Weibin," "Jingmu," "Yunqing," and "Senyang."

Notable People with the Jiang Surname:

• Jiang Ziya: Real name Lü Shang (1128–1015 BC), a renowned statesman, military strategist, and strategist in Chinese history.
• Jiang Xiaobai: Also known as Duke Huan of Qi, a descendant of Jiang Ziya and the leader of the Five Hegemons during the Spring and Autumn period. He appointed Guan Zhong as his prime minister and established the state of Qi, gaining dominance through military campaigns.
• Jiang Wei: (202–264 AD), a famous military commander of the Shu Han dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period.

The Jiang surname has a rich and enduring history in China, with its origins dating back to ancient times.