The Zong Clan#

Clan Name: Zong, Pronunciation: zōng

Distribution of the Zong Clan**#

The Zong Clan is found in the areas from Xi’an to Hua County in Shaanxi Province, as well as in the Xia County area east of the Yellow River in Shanxi Province.

Origins of the Zong Clan**#

The origin of the “Zong” clan can be traced to the following:

1. Descendants of the Four Sacred Mountains: During the Yao Dynasty, officials were appointed with titles related to these mountains, responsible for overseeing the seasons and regional affairs. In the Zhou Dynasty, there was an official position called “Zongbo” who oversaw the sacrificial ceremonies of the state. This position was equivalent to the later “Minister of Rites.” The Zongbo assisted the emperor in managing the affairs of the royal family and was one of the six high-ranking officials. Some descendants of these Zongbo officials adopted the surname “Zong” based on their ancestral titles.

2. Derived from the Zi surname: Some clans originated from the Zi surname, with the character “Zong” added as part of their surname. This includes the Zhong clan, which also descended from the Jin Dynasty’s official Zongbo.

3. Derived from the Yan surname: During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a state with the surname Yan; descendants of this family also adopted the surname “Zong.”

4. From the Chen Dynasty: According to the “Yuanhe Xing Zuan,” the Zong clan descended from Zong Lai, a sixth-generation descendant of Duke Xuan of Chen. The “Zuo Zhuan” mentions a person named Zong Shu from the Chen state.

Spread of the Clan

The Zong clan had multiple origins and had already settled in various regions by the Pre-Qin period, including Nanyang (Henan), Lujiang (Anhui), Qu County (Sichuan), Huaiyang (Henan), and Qixian (Henan). Examples include Zong Shu from the Chen state, Zong Lu from the Wei state, and Zong Lou, a high-ranking official from the Qi state, as mentioned in the “Zuo Zhuan.” During the Han Dynasty, the Zong clan in Nanyang became a prominent and influential family, producing many notable individuals, such as Zong Bo, the Commandant of the Five Guards; Zong Jun, the governor of Henei; Zong Jing, the governor of Liaodong; Zong Yi, the Inspector of the Imperial Court; Zong Ju, the Minister of Works; Zong Zi, the governor of Runan; and his sons Zong Cheng (also known as Shilin), Zong Gan, and Zong Cheng, who were experts in astronomy and calendar studies.

After the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Zong clan expanded to Xi’an (Shaanxi) and from there migrated to Longxi and Lanzhou (Gansu). During the Three Kingdoms period, some members of the Nanyang Zong clan moved to Sichuan due to their official careers. After the fall of the Shu state, they settled in Luoyang. During the Jin Dynasty, the Zong clan also settled in Jiehou (Shanxi). The Nanyang Zong clan remained strong throughout the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, with notable figures such as Zong Cheng, Zong Yao, Zong Bing, Zong Zhi, Zong Ke, and Zong Yan. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the clan moved to Hedong (present-day Yongji, Shanxi). For example, Zong Chuke, a Tang dynasty chancellor, was descended from a Nanyang native who served as the governor of Nanhong during the Later Liang period and later moved to Hedong.

After the Tang Dynasty, the Zong clan spread to various regions, including Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Anhui. Invasions by foreign tribes led to some members fleeing to Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi. During the early Ming Dynasty, the Zong clan from Shanxi was relocated to other areas due to the Hongtong Huai Tree Migration Program. In the Qing Dynasty, the clan became even more widespread across the country, with branches appearing in Shandong and other provinces.

Notable Personalities with the Zong Surname**#

• Zong Bing (375–443): A talented individual from Nanyang (present-day Nanyang) during the Southern Song Dynasty. He was skilled in music, calligraphy, and painting, and wrote “Ming Fo Lun” and “Hua Shan Shu Xu.” He was a prominent artist and scholar of his time.
• Zong Ze (1060–1128): A distinguished politician and military leader during the Northern and Southern Song dynasties who fought against the Jin invaders. His father was Zong Shunqing. He served as the commander of the rebel forces in Hebei and defeated the Jin army multiple times, repeatedly calling for the conquest of the Jin territory before his death.
• Zong Jichen (1792–1867): A scholar from Kuaiji, Zhejiang. He became a government official and served as the director of the waterways in Shandong before retiring due to illness. He taught at several academies and authored works such as “Gong Chi Zhai Wen Chao,” “Shi Po,” and “Si Shu Ti Wei Lu,” which were recorded in the “Qing Shi Lie Zhuan.”