弓姓
The Gong surname originated from Taiyuan and has multiple origins: from the Ji surname via ancestor Shugong, from the official title "Gongzheng" held by Hui, son of the Yellow Emperor, and from the Gongsun clan of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period.
The Gong Clan
Surname: Gong (Gōng)
Distribution of the Gong Clan
According to the “Junwang Baijiaxing” (A Record of the Hundred Surnames from Various Regions), the Gong clan originated from Taiyuan Commandery, which was established in the fourth year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin (246 BCE), corresponding to the area around present-day Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province.
Origins of the Gong Clan
The surname “Gong” has several origins:
- From the Ji surname: Some members of the Ji clan adopted their grandfather’s given name as their surname. As recorded in the “Wanxing Tongpu,” during the Spring and Autumn period, there was a man named Gongsun Yingqi from the State of Lu who distinguished himself in battles against the states of Song and Zheng at the side of Duke Cheng of Lu. Yingqi’s given name was Shugong, and his descendants adopted “Gong” as their surname, derived from their grandfather’s name.
- From official titles: It is said that the Yellow Emperor had a son named Hui, who was granted the title of “Gongzheng” for his invention of the bow and arrow. His descendants also adopted “Gong” as their surname.
- From the Gongsun clan during the Spring and Autumn period: Gongsun Yingqi from the State of Lu fought alongside Duke Cheng of Lu against Song and Zheng and was granted the title of “Lu Dafu” (a high-ranking official) for his contributions. His descendants took his grandfather’s given name, “Shugong,” as their surname, which eventually became the Gong surname. The “Tongzhou Shizhu Lue” states, “The Gong clan descended from Shugong, a high-ranking official of Lu.”
Ancestor of the Surname According to the “Xingshimi Lue,” Hui, a son of the Yellow Emperor, was granted the title of “Gongzheng” for his invention of the bow and arrow. During the Spring and Autumn period, Gongsun Yingqi, a member of the noble family of Lu, adopted his given name “Shugong” as his surname and passed it down through generations. Therefore, Shugong is considered the ancestor of the Gong clan.
Hall Names The “Guanglu Hall” is associated with Gong Zhi of the Han dynasty, who held the official position of “Guanglu Xun.”