The Yue Clan#

Clan Name: Yue, pronounced as “yuè”

Regions Where the Yue Clan is Found#

Shanyang Commandery: In ancient times, there were two Shanyang Commanderies:**

1. During the sixth year of the Zhongyuan era of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty (144 BCE), the Liang Kingdom was divided into the Shanyin Kingdom. Later, during the Jianyuan era of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (140–135 BCE), it was renamed Shanyang Commandery. Its jurisdiction covered the area around Jinxiang County, near Dushan Lake in present-day Shandong Province.
2. During the Yixi era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (405–418 CE), Emperor An of Jin divided the Guangling Commandery into the Shanyang Commandery to govern the regions surrounding Shanyang. Its jurisdiction included the areas around Qingjiang and Huai'an in present-day Jiangsu Province.

Fengyi Commandery: This commandery was established during the Qin Dynasty. In the first year of the Taichu era of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (104 BCE), the administrative district of Zuo Fengyi was established, which, along with You Fufeng and Jingzhao Yi, was known as the “Three Auxiliaries of the Capital.” Its jurisdiction was in the area around Dali County in present-day Shaanxi Province.

Ye Commandery: During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Northern Wei Dynasty separated Jizhou and established the Ye Commandery, with its capital in Ye Yi (present-day Linzhang, Hebei).

Origins of the Yue Clan#

The Yue clan has multiple origins:

1. It may have originated from the Jiang clan, descending from Bo Yi, a minister of the ancient Emperor Zhuanxu, and took its name from an official title.
2. Some members of the clan may have come from the Mongolian ethnic group and adopted the Chinese surname after assimilation.
3. Others may have originated from the Uyghur ethnic group and adopted the Chinese surname through assimilation.
4. Some may have come from the Manchu ethnic group and adopted the Chinese surname through assimilation.
5. Still others may have come from the Jingpo ethnic group and adopted the Chinese surname through assimilation.
6. There are also cases where members of other ethnic minority groups adopted the Chinese surname through assimilation.

Ancestor of the Clan: Bo Yi. A descendant of Yan Emperor Shennong, Bo Yi served as the chief priest of Emperor Zhuanxu and later became the first “Taiyue.” Taiyue refers to Mount Hua, which was considered the highest peak and a place of connection to the heavens. The position of Taiyue was established for the purpose of worshiping the heavens, and Bo Yi was the first to hold this title. As the Taiyue tribe moved to different locations, they continued to worship mountains, giving rise to the concept of the “Four Mountains” (the highest peaks in the four directions, centered on the Taiyue tribe). These mountains became official positions, with tribal leaders in charge of their worship. The Four Mountains played a significant role in assisting Emperor Yao in governing the tribal alliance and were highly respected. They refused Emperor Yao’s offer of the throne and passed it on to Shun. The descendants of the Four Mountains adopted the surname “Yue” in honor of their ancestor.

Migration and Spread: The Yue clan is a multi-ethnic group with diverse origins. It ranks 133rd on the list of most common surnames in China and 186th in Taiwan Province, with a population of approximately 1.661 million, accounting for about 0.1038% of the national population. The clan’s history is long and can be traced back to ancient texts such as “Xing Yuan.” Before the Song Dynasty, it was rarely mentioned in historical records. According to “Jun Wang Bai Jia Xing,” the clan mainly thrived in the Shanyang region during the Qin and Han dynasties. Since then, it has spread throughout China. Many members of the Yue clan originally came from Shandong Province and have maintained the traditional name “Shanyang” as their clan name. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the clan also migrated to other provinces and regions, including Henan, Jiangsu, and Anhui. The emergence of the national hero Yue Fei during the Song Dynasty brought fame to the Yue clan, which has since had many notable figures in history. After the fall of the Song Dynasty, some members of the clan migrated to other regions, such as Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Sichuan.

Clan Halls (Tang Hao): The Yue clan uses the following hall names:

• Shanyang Hall: Reflecting the clan’s ancestral role in governing the regions surrounding Mount Hua.
• Fengyi Hall: Derived from the clan’s history in the Fengyi area during the Qin and Han dynasties.
• Linzhang Hall: Named after the location of Ye Commandery during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Notable Figures with the Surname Yue:

• Yue Fei: A famous national hero who led the resistance against the Jin Dynasty but was unjustly killed by corrupt officials.
• Yue Ke: A famous scholar and historian of the Southern Song Dynasty who documented Yue Fei’s achievements.
• Yue Yu Lan: A notable official of the Ming Dynasty.

The Yue clan is widely distributed across China and around the world, with the largest populations in Sichuan and Henan provinces. However, there is no Yue clan association in Singapore, indicating that the number of Yue clan members there is relatively small.

The Yue clan has a long and illustrious history, with roots dating back to ancient times. Its members have played significant roles in Chinese history and culture.