The Chang Family#

Surname: Chang, pronounced as “cháng”

Regions Where the Chang Family is Found**#

• Taiyuan Commandery: Established in the fourth year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin during the Warring States period (246 BCE), with its administrative center in Jinyang (now southwest of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province).
• Pingyuan Commandery: Established during the Western Han Dynasty, with its administrative center in Pingyuan (now southwest of Pingyuan County, Shandong Province). This commandery covered areas including present-day Pingyuan, Ling County, Yucheng, Qihe, Linyi, Shanghe, Huimin, and Yangxin counties in Shandong, roughly corresponding to the western part of the province.
• Jiangyuan Commandery: Its administrative center was located in the vicinity of present-day Chongqing County, Sichuan Province.
• Henei Commandery: Established during the Chu-Han conflict, with its administrative center in Huai County (now southwest of Wuxie County, Henan Province). It corresponded to the area north of the Yellow River and west of the Jinghan Railway (including Jixian County).
• Western Jin Dynasty: The administrative center was moved to Yewang (now Qinyang, Henan Province).
• Wuwei Commandery: Established in the second year of Emperor Yuanshou of the Han Dynasty (121 BCE) on the former territory of the Xiongnu Xiu Tu kingdom, with its administrative center in Wuwei (now northeast of Minqin, Gansu Province).

Origins of the Chang Family**#

The Chang family ranks 94th among the most common surnames in China, with a large population, accounting for approximately 0.18% of the Han Chinese population.

Origins of the Surname “Chang”:

1. Derived from the Ji surname: The Chang surname originated from a local place name. According to “Tongzhi · Shizu Lüe,” after King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang dynasty, his son was enfeoffed in the state of Kang, later known as Kang Shu. After Wu Geng’s rebellion was suppressed, Kang Shu was re-enfeoffed in the state of Wei. His descendants then adopted the name Chang.
2. Name changes for avoidance: During the Spring and Autumn period, a member of the Chu royal family named Heng Hui changed his surname to Chang to avoid the name of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, Zhao Heng. The characters for “Heng” and “Chang” have similar meanings.
3. Another origin: According to “Lushi,” a member of the Wu royal family during the Warring States period also adopted the surname Chang. Additionally, in mythology, there are references to Chang Xian, a minister of the Yellow Emperor, and Chang Xi, his descendant.

Ancestor of the Surname Chang

Kang Shu, the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, was enfeoffed in Kangyi, hence the name Kang Shu. After King Zhou suppressed the rebellion led by Wu Geng, Kang Shu was granted additional territories around the former Shang capital and established the state of Wei, with its capital in Chaoge (now Qixian, Henan Province), later moved to Diqu (now Puyang, Henan Province). During the Warring States period, the clan spread to various regions. In the Han Dynasty, the Chang family became prominent in places like Taiyuan and Pingyuan.

Distribution of the Chang Family

Shandong and Jiangsu were the early centers of the Chang family’s origin, leading to its widespread distribution across China. During the Warring States period, the Chang surname could be found in northern regions such as Henan and Hebei, as well as in southern states like Wu and Chu. In the Western Han Dynasty, a notable member from Taiyuan, Chang Hui, served as an envoy to the Xiongnu and later became a high-ranking official. The Chang family also became influential in Pingyuan Commandery. By the end of the Han Dynasty and during the Three Kingdoms period, many prominent individuals from the Chang family emerged in Sichuan. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Chang family flourished in Henan and Gansu. In the Tang Dynasty, many members of the Chang family held high positions in the government, forming influential clans in Henei and Taiyuan. During the Song Dynasty, some Chang family members changed their surname to avoid the name of Emperor Zhenzong, contributing to its further spread. In the Qing Dynasty, some members moved to Taiwan and Singapore.

Current Distribution of the Chang Family

Today, the Chang family is most prevalent in Henan, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Hebei provinces, accounting for about 63% of the national Han Chinese population with this surname.

Notable People with the Surname Chang:

• Chang Qu: A historian from Jiangyuan in the state of Shu during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, who wrote works such as “Huayang Guozhi” and “Han Zhi.”
• Chang Yuchun: A famous general from Huaiyuan, Anhui, known for his bravery and martial skills. He joined the rebel forces led by Liu Ju and later served under Zhu Yuanzhang, rising to high military ranks. Many members of the Chang family became prominent during the Ming Dynasty, especially in Taiyuan and Pingyuan Commandery.