The Cen Clan#

Surname: Cen, pronounced as “cén”.

Regions Where the Cen Clan is Found**#

• Nanyang Commandery, Hubei
• Jiyang Commandery, Henan
• Henan Commandery, Henan

Origin of the Cen Clan**#

The Cen clan ranked 67th among the top 100 surnames during the Song Dynasty. It has not made it into the top 100 surnames in the contemporary mainland or Taiwan’s new list of top 100 surnames.

Origin of the Surname “Cen” There are two theories regarding the origin of the Cen surname:

1. It originates from the Ji surname. According to records in Fengsu Tong, Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue, Lüshi Chunqiu, and Tangshu·Zaixiang Shixi Biao, Qu, the son of Ji Yao (an illegitimate brother of King Wen of Zhou), was granted the title of “Cenzi” by King Wu of Zhou. The area where he was enfeoffed was called Cen Ting in the state of Liang (the ancient city is located south of present-day Hancheng, Shaanxi). His descendants adopted the name of the state as their surname.
2. It also originates from other ethnic groups. The “Li people” from the Ling and Yue regions (referring to Guangdong and Guangxi) were often derogatorily called “Li” in ancient times; this was a ethnic group name. Some of them later merged with the Han and Zhuang peoples. The Li people are considered the ancestors of the Li ethnic group in Hainan. Today, the Zhuang and Buyi ethnic groups also have the Cen surname.

Ancestor of the Surname The ancestor of the Cen surname is Cenzi. He was from the Ji surname, named Qu, and a son of Ji Yao, an illegitimate brother of King Wen of Zhou. After King Wu of Zhou defeated the Shang Dynasty, he granted Qu the title of “Cenzi” and enfeoffed him in Cen Ting. Cenzi’s descendants adopted the name of the state as their surname and regarded him as the ancestor of the Cen clan.

Migration and Distribution The Cen clan originated in present-day Hancheng, Shaanxi. During the Pre-Qin period, a branch of the clan moved to Nanyang Commandery. At the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the famous general Cen Peng brought fame to the Cen surname and provided the necessary material and economic conditions for its further development. After Cen Peng was assassinated, his son Cen Zun was granted the title of Marquis of Guyang by the emperor in recognition of his father’s achievements. Cen Zun’s descendants continued to hold high positions and further enhanced the reputation of the Cen clan.

From the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Cen clan remained prosperous in Nanyang Commandery. Due to reasons such as official careers, fleeing hardships, or seeking better living conditions, members of the clan migrated to Shanxi, Shandong, Hebei, as well as provinces in the south such as Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, and Hunan. The Tang Dynasty was another peak period for the Cen clan, with three Cen family members holding the position of prime minister, and countless others serving as officials. The first prime minister of the Tang Dynasty was Cen Wenben; his grandfather, Cen Shanfang, served as a minister during the Southern Liang Dynasty, and his father, Cen Xiang, was the magistrate of Handan during the Sui Dynasty. Cen Wenben’s descendants continued to hold high positions and greatly enhanced the reputation of the Cen clan.

During the Ming Dynasty, the Cen clan spread across the country. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, some members of the clan migrated to Shanxi as part of the Hongtong Dahuaishu relocation program. After the mid-Ming Dynasty, the Cen clan’s distribution became even more widespread, with members moving to various regions across China.

Notable People with the Cen Surname

• Cen Peng: A general from Nanyang Jiyang (present-day northeast of Xinye, Henan) during the early Eastern Han Dynasty. He was granted the title of Marquis of Guide and later served as the governor of Yingchuan. After joining Liu Xiu’s forces, he became the Minister of Justice and fought in Hebei. After Liu Xiu became emperor, Cen Peng was promoted to the rank of marquis and was assassinated.
• Cen Xi: A minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a great-grandson of Cen Peng. He inherited the title and married Princess Nieyang, the sister of Emperor An. He served as an imperial attendant and governor of Wei Commandery. During his tenure, he valued scholars and participated in political discussions, earning the praise of the people.
• Cen Shen: A poet from Jiangling, Jingzhou during the Tang Dynasty. He was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and traveled to Anxi and Wuwei. He served as the governor of Jiazhou and was known for his seven-character poems that depicted the scenery of the border regions and the realities of war. He was as famous as Gao Shi and the two were collectively referred to as “Gao and Cen”. His collection of poems is titled Cen Jiazhou Shi Ji.

Clan Branches and Titles Common clan branches and associated titles include “Nanyang”, “Rengwu”, and “Zhangqing”.

The Cen clan has a long and illustrious history, with many notable individuals who have contributed to Chinese culture and history.