The Duan Clan#

Clan Name: Duan#

Pronunciation: duàn

Distribution of the Duan Clan#

• Jingzhao Commandery: In the first year of the Taichu era of the Han Dynasty, the position of Right Interior Minister was abolished and replaced by the Jingzhao Governor, with its administrative center in Chang'an. During the Three Kingdoms period, the territory under the control of the Wei state was renamed Jingzhao Commandery.
• Wuwei Commandery: Established during the Han Dynasty on the former lands of the Xiongnu Xiu Tu tribe, with its administrative center in Wuwei. The progenitor of this branch of the Duan clan was Duan Zhen from the Western Han Dynasty.
• Fufeng Commandery: Established in the first year of the Taichu era by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty as one of the Three Auxiliaries. It was renamed Fufeng Commandery during the Three Kingdoms period, with its administrative center in Huaili. During the Western Jin Dynasty, the capital was moved to Chiyang.
• Tianshui Commandery: Established in the third year of the Yuanding era of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty (114 BCE), covering the areas of present-day Tianshui and Longxi in Gansu Province. The administrative center was in Pingxiang (now northwest of Tongwei County, Gansu Province). In the seventeenth year of the Yongping era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (74 CE), it was renamed Hanyang Commandery. During the Three Kingdoms period, it was again renamed Tianshui Commandery.

Origins of the Duan Clan#

There are five origins for the Duan surname:

1. From the Ji clan: Derived from Gongshu Duan, a son of Duke Wu of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period. He adopted his father's given name as his surname. According to historical records such as the "Yuanhe Xingzuan" and "Records of the Grand Historian: The House of Zheng", Duke Wu's wife, Wu Jiang, had difficulty giving birth to their eldest son, Zhuang Gong, but had a smooth delivery with their second son, Shu Duan. As a result, she favored Shu Duan over Zhuang Gong. When Duke Wu was seriously ill, Wu Jiang asked him to depose the elder son in favor of the younger one, but he refused. After Zhuang Gong ascended to the throne, Wu Jiang requested that the fiefdom be granted to Shu Duan, which he also refused. Instead, the fief was given to Shu Duan. Shu Duan colluded with Wu Jiang to expand his power and plotted against Zhuang Gong. Upon discovering this, Zhuang Gong sent troops to conquer him. Shu Duan was defeated and fled to Gong, where he became known as Gong Shu Duan. His descendants adopted various surnames, including Duan and Gong Shu.
2. From a fiefdom: Derived from Duan Ganmu, a general of the Wei state during the Spring and Autumn period who was granted the fief of Duan Gan. His descendants adopted the name of the fief as their surname. This is the origin of the Duan clan in Shanxi.
3. From the Xianbei tribe in Liaoxi: According to historical records such as the "Xingshu Yuan" and "Cihai", during the Western Jin Dynasty, a Xianbei tribal leader named Tan Shihuai had descendants such as Duan Wumu Chen and Duan Pixi Dan, who were granted the title of Duke of Liaoxi. Their territory covered western Liaoning, and many of their descendants adopted the surname Duan.
4. In Yunnan: There are two origins for the Duan clan in Yunnan:
   • One branch originated from Duan Yan, who became a tribal leader among the Man people at the end of the Wei Dynasty. His descendant, Duan Ping, established the Dali Dynasty during the Later Jin Dynasty, making the Duan surname a prominent one in the region.
   • Another branch originated from the Bai people, who also established the Dali Dynasty and made the Duan surname common in Yunnan.
5. From other ethnic groups: The Duan surname can also be found among ethnic groups such as the De'ang people in Luxi, the Manchu, Mongols, Tu people, and Miao people.

Progenitor of the Clan: Gongshu Duan#

During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Wu of Zheng's wife, Wu Jiang, had difficulty giving birth to their eldest son, Zhuang Gong, but had a smooth delivery with their second son, Shu Duan. She favored Shu Duan over Zhuang Gong. When Duke Wu was ill, she requested that he make Shu Duan the heir, but he refused. After Zhuang Gong became the ruler, Wu Jiang asked to grant the fief of Zhi to Shu Duan, which he again refused. Instead, the fief was given to Zhuang Gong's younger brother. Shu Duan plotted to overthrow his brother with Wu Jiang's support but was defeated by Zhuang Gong. His descendants spread to various places, adopting the surname Duan.

Hall Names of the Clan#

Common hall names of the Duan clan include: "Junshi Hall", "Wuwei Hall", "Jingzhao Hall", "Jinchou Hall", "Doushou Hall", and "Jifeng Hall".

Migration and Distribution#

The Duan clan originated in four places:

1. Gong, the place where Shu Duan fled during the Spring and Autumn period (now in northern Henan).
2. The territory under the control of General Zong of the Wei state (now in southeastern Shanxi and northern Henan).
3. The fief granted to the Xianbei clan in Liaoxi.
4. Yunnan.

The Duan clan flourished in Shaanxi and Gansu during the Han Dynasty and later spread to other regions. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern