The Lian Clan#

Surname: Lian, pronounced as “lián”

Distribution of the Lian Clan#

Hedong Commandery: The prominent Lian clans lived in Hedong. The Hedong Commandery was established during the Qin Dynasty as a place for maintaining order and governing the southwestern region of Jin. The administrative center of this commandery is located north of Xia County, Shanxi Province today. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the administrative seat was moved to Puban (now Puzhou Town, Yongji, Shanxi). In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was known as the Hedong Commandery of Puzhou. The Sui Dynasty also separated Puban to establish the Hedong County as the new administrative center. During the Ming Dynasty, the Hedong County was merged into Puzhou.

Origin of the Lian Clan#

The origin of the “Lian” surname can be traced back to two theories:

1. According to the “Yuanhe Xing Zuan,” the Lian surname is said to be derived from a descendant of Dalian, a grandson of the ancient emperor Zhuanxu, who adopted the name of his grandfather as his own surname.
2. According to the “History of the Yuan Dynasty,” during the Yuan Dynasty, there was a Uyghur man named布鲁海牙 (Brul Haiya) who held the position of “Suzheng Lianfangshi” (a high-ranking official in charge of governance and integrity). When his son was born, he named him “Lian Xixian” after his official title.

Ancestor of the Surname

Dalian is considered the progenitor of the Lian clan. This is indeed a very ancient Chinese surname, with its origins dating back at least 4,000 years. According to the “Xing Zuan,” the lineage of the Lian clan is as follows: “A descendant of Zhuanxu named Dalian adopted the name of his grandfather as his own surname; among the Zhao people, there was a notable figure named Lian Po.” In other words, this ancient surname also signifies descent from the legitimate descendants of the Yellow Emperor.

Migration and Distribution

The Lian clan is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. Its ancestors can be traced back to ancient times. According to the “Yuanhe Xing Zuan,” the Lian surname has a very ancient origin. The Yellow Emperor had a grandson named Zhuanxu, who in turn had a grandson named Dalian. The descendants of Dalian adopted the character “Lian” from their name as their surname. During the Yuan Dynasty, there was a Uyghur man named布鲁海牙 (Brul Haiya) who was highly trusted by the emperor and appointed as “Suzheng Lianfangshi.” When his son was born, he named him “Lian Xixian.” From then on, the descendants of Lian Xixian all bore the surname Lian. The Lian clan became prominent in the Hedong Commandery and was known as the “Hedong Wang” (a respected clan from Hedong). As recorded in the “Xing Yuan,” Dalian, a descendant of Emperor Zhuanxu, adopted his grandfather’s name as his surname.

Clan Halls

The main clan hall of the Lian family is called “Tianxin Hall.”

Notable People with the Lian Surname

Lian Po: A general of the Zhao state during the Warring States period. During the reign of King Huiwen of Zhao, he led his troops to a decisive victory against the Qi army and was promoted to the rank of Shangqing (a high-ranking official). In 260 BC, Zhao and Qin clashed at Changping (north of Gaoping, Shanxi Province). Lian Po commanded the army, building defensive fortifications and holding their position for three years, preventing the Qin army from achieving a victory. Later, the Zhao king fell for a Qin plot and appointed Zhao Kuo as the new general. Zhao Kuo, however, was incompetent and led to a disastrous defeat; 400,000 Zhao soldiers were captured and buried alive. In 251 BC, Lian Po again led his troops to a victory against the Yan army and was appointed as the chancellor, receiving the title of Lord Xingping. In his later years, Lian Po felt frustrated due to unfulfilled ambitions and defected to the Wei state, settling in Daliang (now Kaifeng, Henan Province). He later left Wei and went to the Chu state, where he died in Shouchun (now Shouxian, Anhui Province).