The Yuwen Clan#

** Clan Name:** Yuwen, pronounced as yǔ wén

Regions where the Yuwen Clan is Found**#

Taiyuan Commandery (present-day Taiyuan, Shanxi Province) and Zhao Commandery (present-day Zhao County, Hebei Province)

Origin of the Yuwen Clan#

According to the Book of Zhou: The ancestors of the Yuwen clan were chieftains of the Xianbei people. One of them, named Puhui, found a jade seal while hunting, which bore the inscription “Imperial Seal.” Puhui believed this was a divine mandate from heaven. In their culture, “Yu” referred to the emperor, and “Wen” referred to a ruler. Therefore, they named their state “Yuwen” and adopted this as their clan name. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Yuwen clan advanced into the Central Plains and established the state of Yuwen, adopting the name Yuwen as their clan name.

Ancestor of the Clan Name

During the Wei and Jin dynasties, there was a Xianbei tribe with the Yuwen name. They claimed to be descendants of the legendary Yan Emperor and Shennong. When Puhui, a leader of this tribe, found a jade seal inscribed with “Imperial Seal” while hunting, he regarded it as a sign of divine authority. The Xianbei people called the sky “Yu” and the ruler “Wen,” meaning “emperor.” The Yuwen clan gradually became a common surname among the Han people. Puhui is considered the ancestor of the Yuwen clan.

Migration and Distribution

The Yuwen clan has not made it into the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. Research in the Book of Zhou and Tongzhi: Clan Records indicates that the characters “Yuwen” were translated from the Xianbei language, where “Yu” meant “sky” and “Wen” meant “ruler.” During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, many foreign tribes sought to conquer the Central Plains. The ancestors of the Yuwen clan, who originally lived in Liaodong, obtained a jade seal that symbolized their destiny to become emperors. They changed their state name to Yuwen and adopted this as their surname. Perhaps it was truly “divine will” that led this branch of the Xianbei people to become emperors and establish the Northern Zhou dynasty in Chinese history. The origin of the Yuwen clan can be traced back approximately 1,500 years ago, likely in the area around Wuchuan, Suiyuan. A total of six members of the Yuwen clan became emperors in history, founding the Northern Zhou dynasty, which lasted for 25 years. The prominent members of the clan lived in Zhao Commandery (present-day Zhao County, Hebei Province) and later in Taiyuan Commandery (present-day Taiyuan County, Shanxi Province).

Notable People with the Yuwen Surname**#

• Yuwen Tai: Served in the Wei dynasty as the Grand Commandant of Guanxi. When Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei was forced by Gao Huan to flee to Chang’an, he sought refuge with Yuwen Tai. Yuwen Tai was appointed Prime Minister and took control of military and political affairs. Later, Yuwen Tai killed Emperor Xiaowu and installed Yuan Baoju, the Prince of Nanyang, as the new emperor (Emperor Wen). He then deposed Emperor Wen and made his son Yuan Kuo the emperor (Emperor Gong), assuming the title of Grand Tutor. When Yuwen Kuo declared himself “Heavenly King” and overthrew the Wei dynasty, he posthumously honored Yuwen Tai as the founding emperor of the Northern Zhou dynasty.
• Yuwen Jue (542–557): Third son of Emperor Wen of Northern Zhou, born to Princess Fengyi of Northern Wei. After Yuwen Tai’s death, Yuwen Jue succeeded him as Grand Tutor. In December, he was granted the region of Qiyang and named Duke of Zhou. With the support of his cousin Yuwen Hu, he ascended the throne, establishing the Northern Zhou dynasty.
• Yuwen Shu: Born in Wuchuan, Dai Commandery (present-day Wuchuan, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region). He was promoted to High Commander for his military achievements during the Northern Zhou dynasty and was granted the title of Duke of Bao.
• Yuwen Hu: Cousin of Yuwen Yong. He was trusted by Yuwen Tai and assisted in establishing the Northern Zhou dynasty. After Yuwen Tai’s death, he helped Yuwen Kuo rule and held significant military and political power. He later poisoned Yuwen Kuo and installed Yuwen Yu as emperor (Emperor Ming), only to kill Yuwen Yu and replace him with Yuwen Yong (Emperor Wu). In the first year of the Jiande era, Yuwen Yong was assassinated by a conspiracy within the palace.
• Yuwen Yong: Emperor of Northern Zhou during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, reigning from 560 to 577. Fourth son of Yuwen Tai. He became emperor in 560 and ruled for 18 years.
• Yuwen Huajie: A defector during the Sui dynasty. He rose to prominence through military achievements and was appointed High Commander of the Right Garrison. In 618, he led a rebellion against Emperor Yang of Sui, establishing the Northern Zhou dynasty but was eventually defeated by Li Mi.
• Yuwen Xuzhong: A poet of the Jin dynasty, known for his works expressing criticism of the Jin rulers and his deep longing for his homeland.