The Zongzheng Clan#

Clan Name: Zongzheng, pronounced as zōng zhèng

Regions Where the Zongzheng Clan Is Found#

• Jingzhao Commandery: This was the direct jurisdiction of the capital. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the position of You Neishi was reorganized to create the position of Jingzhao Yin, which became the head of the “Three Assistants” (Sanfu). The administrative center was in Chang’an (now north of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province). The name Jingzhao Commandery was established during the Wei Dynasty of the Three Kingdoms period.
• Pengcheng Commandery: This refers to present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu. It is said that Yao granted Pengzu this land, which became the state of Dapeng. The state of Pengcheng was established during the Qin Dynasty. In the later Western Han Dynasty, Pengcheng Commandery was sometimes under the jurisdiction of the state of Chu. The state of Pengcheng was re-established during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Afterwards, it was either part of Pengcheng Commandery or Xuzhou, with its administrative center in Pengcheng. Pengcheng County was abolished in the early Yuan Dynasty and incorporated into the jurisdiction of a higher-level administrative unit.

Origin of the Zongzheng Clan#

The origin of the Zongzheng clan is straightforward. One theory suggests that it originated from the Liu family, descendants of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty. They adopted their official title as their clan name. According to the “Tongzhi·Shiizu Lüe,” Liu De, a descendant of Liu Bang, was the grandson of Liu Jiao, the Prince of Chu. Liu De held the position of Zongzheng, one of the Nine Ministers, responsible for managing the royal household affairs. Some of Liu De’s descendants took their ancestor’s official title as their clan name, which was later modified to “Zongzheng.” Most members of the Zongzheng clan have since merged into the broader Liu lineage.

Founder of the Clan

The founder of the Zongzheng clan was Liu De, a member of the Hejian royal family. He was the second son of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, and his mother was Lady Li. Liu De was a renowned scholar who dedicated himself to learning and the study of ancient texts. He collected and preserved many ancient manuscripts, including the “Zhou Guan,” “Shang Shu,” “Zhou Li,” “Li Ji,” “Mencius,” and “Laozi.” He played a significant role in the flourishing of classical studies during the Han Dynasty and made great contributions to the preservation of Chinese literature and the development of Confucianism. After his death, he was posthumously honored with the title of Hejian Xianwang. Some of his descendants adopted his official title as their clan name, which evolved into “Zongzheng.”

Migration and Distribution

The Zongzheng clan is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. The name “Zongzheng” is derived from the official title of “Zongzheng,” which was established during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and was one of the Nine Ministers, in charge of royal affairs. Liu Jiao, the brother of Emperor Gaozu of Han, was granted the title of Prince of Chu. Liu De, the grandson of Liu Jiao, served as Zongzheng and had free access to the imperial palace, managing royal affairs, which was highly enviable. As recorded in the “Tongzhi·Shiizu Lüe,” Liu De’s descendants adopted his official title as their clan name. The Zongzheng clan has a history of over 2,000 years. Over time, many members of the Zongzheng clan simplified their surname to “Zong.” The clan is primarily found in the regions of Jingzhao Commandery (east of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, to Hua County) and Pengcheng Commandery (Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province).

Hall Names (Tanghao)

The “Anxi Hall” was associated with Zongzheng Zhen, a descendant of the later Wei Dynasty. He held the positions of General of Anxi and Grand Master of Ceremonies (Guanglu Dafu) and served as the military governor during the Xiaochang period, suppressing rebellions in Lefenzhou.