The Pang Family#

Surname: Pang, pronounced as “páng”

Regions Where the Pang Family Is Found**#

• Xihou County, Bo County in Anhui Province

Origins of the Pang Family#

The origin of the Pang surname can be traced to four different lines:

1. From the Ji surname: Descendants of Bi Gonggao, a descendant of King Wen of Zhou. According to historical records such as “Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue” and “Qianjia Xing Zhaoyuan,” Bi Gonggao’s descendants were granted the fief of Pang, and later generations adopted this place name as their surname.
2. From the Gaoyang lineage: Descendants of Zhuanxu, the grandson of the Yellow Emperor. One of Zhuanxu’s eight sons, Pang Jiang, is said to have passed down his surname to his descendants.
3. From Xiangyang: The Pang family in Xiangyang was known for their wealth and the construction of tall buildings; the locals honored them, giving them the name “Pang Gaowu,” which later became their surname.
4. From other ethnic groups or through surname changes: For example, during the Western Han Dynasty, there was a person named Pang Tian from the Xiqiang tribe. In the Qing Dynasty, some Manchu people also adopted the Pang surname, and it has since spread among the Manchu, Tujia, Yao, and Mongolian ethnic groups.

Spread of the Pang Family

Before the Wei and Jin dynasties, the Pang family had already settled in regions such as Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Hubei, Chongqing, and Liaoning. During the Three Kingdoms period, there was Pang Tong, a nephew of Pang De from Shu; Pang De himself was from Nanan Di Dao (now Longxi, Gansu), and another Pang from Fufeng (now Fengxiang, Shaanxi) served under Liu Bei. By the time of the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Pang family had grown significantly, with prominent branches in Nanan, Nanyang, Shiping, and Qiao. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, their influence continued to expand, with members settling in places like Yulin and Jingyang in Shaanxi, Taiyuan and Daixian in Shanxi, Heze in Shandong, and Shouxian in Anhui. Some Pang families also moved to Quanzhou in Zhejiang.

Notable Figures with the Pang Surname

• Pang Juan: A general from the State of Wei during the Warring States period. He studied military strategy with Sun Bin and later plotted to harm Sun Bin by deliberately breaking his kneecap, only to be defeated by Sun Bin at the Battle of Maling (southwest of present-day Fan County, Shandong).
• Pang Tong: A strategist from Xiangyang (now Xiangfan, Hubei) who was a key advisor to Liu Bei during the Eastern Han Dynasty. He died from an arrow wound while leading an army in Luoxian at the age of 36.
• Pang De: A famous general from the State of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He first served under Ma Teng and then Zhang Lu, later defecting to Cao Cao. Cao Cao recognized his bravery and appointed him as the General of Righteousness, granting him the title of Marquis of Guanmen Ting. He was captured by Guan Yu and died defiantly during a battle.

Spread of the Pang Family Beyond China

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Pang family further dispersed, with members moving to regions such as Guangxi and Taiwan. In the early Qing Dynasty, the Manchu army caused widespread destruction in Sichuan, prompting many people to flee to southern China. The Qing government also encouraged migration, leading to the establishment of Pang families in new areas. In the Qing Dynasty, some Pang families from Shandong and Hubei migrated to Sichuan. After the Qianlong era, some Pang families from Shandong went to the Northeast, while others from East and South China crossed the sea to Taiwan. Today, the Pang surname is widely distributed across China, with the largest populations in Shandong and Guangxi, accounting for about 42% of the total Han Chinese Pang population.

Conclusion

The Pang family has a rich historical background and a significant presence in Chinese culture. Its members have made notable contributions to various fields throughout Chinese history.