Shang Family Surname#

Surname: Shang, pronounced as “shàng”.

Distribution of the Shang Surname#

1. Jingzhao Commandery, with its administrative center in Chang’an (present-day Xi’an, Shaanxi);
2. Ji Commandery, with its administrative center in Ji County (now part of Henan);
3. Qinghe Commandery, with its administrative center in Qingyang (present-day Qinghe, Hebei);
4. Shangdang Commandery: During the Qin Dynasty, the administrative center was in Huguan (north of present-day Changzhi, Shanxi); during the Western Han Dynasty, it was moved to Changzi (west of present-day Changzi, Shanxi).

Origins of the Shang Surname#

The origin of the “Shang” surname can be traced to the following:

1. It is derived from the Jiang surname. According to records such as “Yuanhe Xing Zuan” and “Wanxing Tongpu,” descendants of Shangfu, a Grand Tutor of the Zhou Dynasty, adopted his courtesy name as their surname.
2. It also originated during the Qin Dynasty, when people took their official titles as their surnames. After Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified China, several official positions were established, including those related to clothing, food, headwear, seating arrangements, bathing, and documentation (all prefixed with “Shang,” implying responsibility and management). Some descendants adopted these titles as their surnames.
3. It may have originated from the Si surname; a member of the Xia tribe named Shanghei adopted the character “Shang” from his name as his surname.
4. Some surnames were formed by people from other ethnic groups changing their surnames.

Ancestral Figure: Shangfu, also known as Jiang Taigong, with the courtesy name Ziya (or Wang). His ancestor, Boyi, assisted Yu the Great in taming the floods and was granted the title of Marquis of Lü, establishing the state of Lü. As a renowned military and political strategist of the late Shang and early Zhou dynasties, Shangfu was highly respected. During the Battle of Muye, he played a key role in defeating the enemy and was a founding hero of the Zhou Dynasty. He was enfeoffed in Qi, where he was granted the authority to command five marquises and nine earls.

Migration and Spread The Shang surname originated in the state of Qi during the Zhou Dynasty. In 386 BCE, King An of Zhou was forced to recognize Tian He as the new Marquis of Qi, marking the replacement of the Jiang family by the Tian family. Since this transition was peaceful, most members of the Shang family remained in Qi. Although the history of the Shang surname is well-documented for later periods, its early history remains largely unclear due to lack of records. During the Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Shang surname was rare and sporadically mentioned in historical texts. In the Tang Dynasty, notable individuals with the Shang surname included Shang Heng, who served as Minister of Rites and Imperial Censor, and Shang Xianfu from Ji (present-day Henan). During the Tang Dynasty, there were also Shangs from the Tubo people who surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. The Shang surname became common among the Manchu people of the Qing Dynasty, who lived in Shenyang, as well as among the Jingpo and other ethnic groups.

Genealogy and Branches The Shang family has branches in various regions, including those that changed their surnames from other ethnic groups. For example, during the Tang Dynasty, Shang Keju, a royal prince of Fengyi, was a member of the Xianbei clan from the east. After the Yuan Dynasty, the Shang surname spread to other regions, especially after the Qing Dynasty when people migrated from Shanxi to other areas of China.

Notable Figures

• Shang Heng, a Tang Dynasty official who served as Minister of Rites and Imperial Censor;
• Shang Yanxin, a leader of peasant uprisings in the late Tang Dynasty;
• Many members of the Shang family migrated to different provinces during the Yuan and Ming dynasties.

Hall Names Common hall names for the Shang family include “Gao Shi,” “Ren Shou,” and “Qing He.”

Characteristics of the Family The Shang surname is typical of a northern Chinese surname, with a strong presence in northern China. According to historical records, the Shang family flourished in regions such as present-day Xi’an (Shaanxi), Qinghe (Hebei), Changzhi (Shanxi), and Ji County (Henan). During the Tang Dynasty, the Shang surname also spread to Fujian. After the Southern Song Dynasty, Shang families appeared in various parts of southern China. The family has a long history and has incorporated members from different ethnic groups.

In summary, the Shang surname has a rich and complex history, with its origins dating back to the Zhou Dynasty. It has spread across China and has had a significant impact on Chinese culture and society.