欧姓
The Ou clan, originating from Pingyang, has two main ancestral lineages: one descending from the master swordsmith Ou Yezi of the Spring and Autumn period, and the other from the nobility of the ancient Yue state, linked to the Ouyang clan.
The Ou Clan
Clan Name: Ou, Pronunciation:ōu
Distribution of the Ou Clan
Pingyang Commandery: According to the record in “Junwang Baijiaxing,” the Ou clan originated from Pingyang Commandery, which was established during the Three Kingdoms period by the state of Wei. This area corresponds to present-day Linfen, Shanxi.
Origins of the Ou Clan
There are two theories regarding the origins of the Ou clan:
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The Ou clan descending from the Ou Ye family shares the same ancestry as the Ou Qu family. During the Spring and Autumn period, a craftsman named Ou Yezi lived on Mount Ou Yu and was famous for forging weapons. He later moved to Yeshan in Minhou County, Fujian, where he forged five powerful swords for the King of Yue: Zhanlu, Juque, Shengxie, Yuchang, and Chunjiao. He also created three other famous swords for the King of Chu: Longyuan, Taiya, and Gongbu. His descendants adopted his name as their clan name. Some members of this branch removed the “que” character from their surname, resulting in the Ou Qu clan. The pronunciation of “Ou” and “Qu” is the same.
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Another theory suggests the Ou clan originated from the Si family and is related to the Ouyang clan. Wu Yu, the son of Emperor Shaokang of the Xia dynasty, was granted the fief of Kuaiji and established the state of Yue, which was later conquered by the state of Wu. Nineteen years later, Goujian regained his kingdom. During the reign of Goujian’s sixth-generation descendant, Wujian, the state of Yue was conquered by the state of Chu. Wujian’s second son, Ti, was granted a fief south of Mount Ou Yu in Wucheng. He was titled “Ouyangting Hou,” and his descendants adopted the name of the mountain and his title as their clan name, giving rise to the Ou, Ouyang, and Ouhou clans. Although some later generations simplified their surnames to just “Ou,” their ancestry still traces back to this branch.
Migration and Distribution
The prominent members of the Ou clan lived in Pingyang (southwest of present-day Linfen).
Hall Name: Bajian Tang (Hall of the Eight Swords): During the Spring and Autumn period, Ou Yezi was skilled in sword forging. The King of Yue commissioned him to create five famous swords: Zhanlu, Juque, Shengxie, Yuchang, and Chunjiao. Later, Ganjiang forged three more swords for the King of Zhao: Longyuan, Taiya, and Gongbu. These eight swords are well-known in history.