The Wu Clan#

Surname: Wu, pronounced as "wǔ"

Distribution of the Wu Clan#

• Taiyuan Commandery: Established in the fourth year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin during the Warring States period. During the Qin dynasty, it covered the area south of Wutai Mountain and Guancen Mountain in Shanxi and north of Huo Mountain. It was re-established as a commandery during the Northern Wei dynasty, corresponding to the present-day Jinzhong region between Yangqu, Jiaocheng, and Pingyao.
• Pei Commandery: Reorganized from Sishui Commandery by Emperor Gao of Han. It encompassed the area north of the Huai River in Anhui, east of the Xifei River, and included parts of Xiayi and Yongcheng in Henan, as well as Pei and Feng in Jiangsu.
• Fengyi Commandery: Established by Emperor Wu of Han as Zuo Fengyi. During the Three Kingdoms period, it was renamed Fengyi Commandery, with its administrative center located around present-day Dali County in Shaanxi Province.

Origins of the Wu Clan#

The surname "Wu" has a rich historical background and is a typical northern Chinese surname, with a wide distribution. It accounts for approximately 0.18% of the Han Chinese population, ranking 95th among the most common surnames in China.

The origins of the Wu surname can be traced to several sources:

1. From the Ji lineage: Descendants of Ji Wu, the younger son of King Ping of Zhou. According to the "New Book of Tang," in 770 BCE, the Quanrong invaded the Western Zhou dynasty, leading to the death of King You of Zhou and the destruction of the capital. Ji Wu, supported by some vassals, ascended the throne in Shen and later moved to Luoyi, which is historically known as the Eastern Zhou dynasty. He was given the surname "Wu" due to a pattern on his palm resembling the character for "war." His descendants adopted this surname, becoming the orthodox Wu clan of Henan.
2. From the name of a state: Some members of the Wu clan took the name of their former state. For example, Wu Luo, a minister of the Xia dynasty, was granted the state of Wuluo. After the state's fall, his descendants adopted this name.
3. From the name of a grandfather or posthumous title: For instance, descendants of King Wuding of Shang adopted his grandfather's name; Wu Ban of the Han dynasty also took his grandfather's name. Another example is Wu Dun of the Song dynasty, whose posthumous title was "Wu."
4. From the name of a place: For example, the Wu Qiang kings of the Han dynasty had their descendants adopt the name of their fief, Wu Qiang.
5. From compound surnames: Some Wu surnames originated from simplified compound surnames, such as the Wu An and Wu Jiang clans.
6. Adopted surnames during the Tang dynasty: Some people were granted the surname Wu by Empress Wu Zetian.
7. From ethnic minorities: Some minority groups, such as the Manchu,鄂温ke, and Mongolian tribes, also adopted the Wu surname.

Ancestral Founder of the Wu Clan: King Wuding of Shang. When he ascended the throne, the state was weak, and he sought to restore its former glory but faced difficulties in finding capable officials. One night, he dreamed of a sage named Fu Shuo who could assist him. After searching, he found him in Pinglu, Shanxi, and appointed him as a minister. Together, they brought the Shang dynasty to its zenith, a period known as the "Wuding Revival."

Migration and Distribution: The Wu clan originated in Henan and quickly spread to neighboring provinces such as Shandong and Jiangsu during the Qin and Han dynasties. People from Pei Commandery (present-day Pei County, Jiangsu) followed Liu Bang during the establishment of the Han dynasty and achieved prominence. In Shandong, the Wu clan remained prosperous and influential throughout the Eastern Han dynasty. The Wu clan's ancestral hall in Jinzhong, known as the "Taiyuan Hall," still contains a painting from the reign of Emperor Huan. According to the "New Book of Tang," a member of the Wu clan from the Western Han dynasty, Wu Ru, was granted a fief in Liangzhou (present-day Jinan, Shandong) and later served as the governor of various regions.

The Wu clan has a long history of producing many notable figures, especially during the Tang dynasty, when it reached its peak of prominence. Empress Wu Zetian, a member of the Wu clan, played a significant role in Chinese history.