The Kang Family#

Surname: Kang, pronounced as “kāng”

Distribution of the Kang Family#

• Jingzhao Commandery: Established during the Wei Dynasty of the Three Kingdoms period. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the position of Right Minister was reorganized, and Jingzhao Yin was appointed along with Left Fengyi and Right Fufeng, forming the head of the “Three Auxiliaries.” The administrative center was located in Chang’an (now north of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province).
• Dongping Commandery: Referred to as Dongping State during the Han Dynasty; its administrative center was in Wuyan (now east of Dongping, Shandong Province).
• Kuiji Commandery: Established by Emperor Qin Shi Huang; its administrative center was in Wuxian (now Suzhou, Jiangsu Province), covering most of Jiangnan, parts of Zhejiang, and some areas in southern Anhui. During the reign of Emperor Shun of Han, the administrative center was moved to Shanyin (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province).

Origins of the Kang Family#

The Kang family ranks 75th among the most common surnames in China, with a population accounting for approximately 0.23% of the total Han Chinese population.

Origins of the Surname “Kang”#

1. Derived from the Ji surname: Some members of the Kang family adopted the posthumous title of their ancestors as their surname. According to “Yuanhe Xing Zuan” and “Xing Yuan,” in the early Zhou Dynasty, Kang Shu, the seventh son of King Wen of Zhou, was granted a fief in the state of Wei. His descendants adopted the posthumous title “Kang” as their surname.
2. Derived from the state name: Some members of the Kang family came from the state of Kangju in the Western Regions (approximately between Lake Balkhash and the Aral Sea) and adopted “Kang” as their surname.
3. **Among the “Nine Surnames of the Zhao Wu Era”: During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, people from the state of Kang (located in present-day Uzbekistan and Samarkand) who migrated to China also adopted “Kang” as their surname.
4. Changes during the Song Dynasty: To avoid the name of Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, the Kuang surname was changed to Kang.

Progenitor of the Kang Family: Kang Shu

According to “Yuanhe Xing Zuan” and other historical records, the Kang surname appeared in China over 3,000 years ago, with Kang Shu as its progenitor. Kang Shu was the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou and was initially granted a fief in Kang (now Yuxian, Henan Province), hence the name Kang Shu. After King Wu’s death, the young King Cheng ascended the throne, and under the governance of the Duke of Zhou, Kang Shu was appointed to rule the area. He managed the remnants of the Shang Dynasty populace effectively, contributing to the stability of the Zhou Dynasty. Kang Shu’s posthumous title, “Kang,” means “to bring peace and happiness to the people.” His descendants took this title as their surname.

Historical Changes

The Kang family originated in the state of Wei, with its capital in Chaoge (now Qi County, Henan Province). After the death of the first ruler of Wei, Kang Shu, his descendants adopted his posthumous title as their surname. The territory of the state of Wei included parts of present-day eastern Henan, western Shandong, and southwestern Hebei. During the Qin Dynasty, the Kang family migrated to Shaanxi and Shandong, giving rise to the Jingzhao and Dongping branches of the Kang lineage. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, some members of the Kang family fled the chaos to Lantian (west of present-day Lantian, Shaanxi Province) and later migrated southeast. During the Song Dynasty, some members of the Kang family changed their surname to avoid the emperor’s name.

Notable Kang Family Members

• Kang Hai: A literary figure from the Ming Dynasty, known for his works in drama, poetry, and prose.
• Kang Dahe: Born in 1507, he passed the imperial examinations and served as a scholar and official in the Ming Dynasty.
• Kang Youwei: A prominent figure in the modern Chinese reform movement, advocate for constitutional reforms, and author of several influential works.

The Kang family has a long and illustrious history, with members contributing significantly to Chinese culture and politics throughout history.