The Wu Clan#

Surname: Wu, pronounced as “wū”

Geographic Distribution of the Wu Clan#

During the Three Kingdoms period, the Wei state split the Hedong commandery and established its administrative center in Pingyang, which corresponds to the area south of Huoxian County in present-day Shanxi Province, including the Fen River basin and the regions to its west.

Origin of the Wu Clan#

The surname “Wu” originates from individuals whose professions were related to religious rituals and divination. According to “Fengsu Tongyi,” those who were skilled in performing rituals, divining, pottery, and other related crafts were considered members of the Wu clan. In the Shang dynasty, Wu practitioners were specialized in performing prayers, healing diseases, and divining. Those who passed down these traditions as a family profession eventually adopted the surname Wu.

Ancestral Founder of the Clan

The ancestral founder of the Wu clan is Wu Peng. According to “Xingshi Kaolue,” Wu Peng served as an advisor to the Yellow Emperor and was a physician, marking the beginning of the Wu clan. Other notable figures from this clan include Wu Xian and Wu Xian from the Shang dynasty, as well as Wu Jian, who served as the governor of Jizhou during the Han dynasty and wrote the “Yangxing Jing.” It is clear that the Wu clan has a long history rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Wu Peng was a prominent figure in this tradition, playing a key role in the development of Chinese medical practices.

Hall Names of the Wu Clan

The main hall names of the Wu clan include “Pingyang Hall.”

Migration and Distribution

The Wu clan did not rank among the top 100 surnames in mainland China; however, it is ranked 85th on the list in Taiwan. For thousands of years, the Wu clan has primarily thrived in the Pingyang area, which is now part of Zoucheng City in Shandong Province. This region was originally part of the Zhu state during the Zhou dynasty and later became a district of the Lu state. It can be inferred that the ancestral home of the Wu clan in China has long been in Shandong. The prominent members of the clan resided in the Pingyang commandery (southwest of present-day Linfen County, Shanxi Province). According to “Xingshi Kaolue,” the ancestral founder of the Wu clan was Wu Peng, who was a physician under the Yellow Emperor.

Conclusion

The Wu clan has a rich historical heritage, with its origins tracing back to ancient Chinese medical practices. The clan has mainly flourished in the Pingyang area and has spread throughout China over time. The ancestral home of the Wu clan in ancient times was Pingyang, which is now Zoucheng City in Shandong Province. Many specific historical records from the Ming dynasty illustrate the clan’s migration patterns, including their early settlement in southern regions such as Fujian and Guangdong. During the Qing dynasty, some Wu clan members migrated from Guangdong to Taiwan, where they established new communities. Today, the Wu clan in Taiwan ranks 73rd in terms of popularity, following the Ma and Wang clans. The ancestors of the Wu clan in Taiwan descended from those who migrated from Guangdong during the early Qing dynasty.