The Xiong Clan#

Surname: Xiong, pronounced as “xióng”

Regions where the Xiong surname is prevalent**#

Jiangling, Hubei

Origins of the Xiong surname**#

The origin of the “Xiong” surname can be traced back to the following:

1. Descendants of the Yellow Emperor: According to texts such as “Shiben,” “Gujin Xingshuzhuan,” and “Yuanhe Xingsuan,” one of the seventh-generation descendants of the Yellow Emperor was named Jilian, who belonged to the Mi clan. Jilian’s descendant, Yuxiong, was a teacher of King Wen of Zhou. Yuxiong’s great-grandson, Xiongyi, founded the state of Chu and adopted the name of his grandfather as his own surname.
2. Descendants of the Youxiong clan of the Yellow Emperor: According to “Yuanhe Xingsuan,” the Yellow Emperor was born in Shouqiu, grew up by the Jishui River, and lived on Xuanyuan Hill. He established his capital in Danyang (now southeast of Zigui, Hubei), which was also known as the Youxiong clan. Some of his descendants adopted the name of their place of origin as their surname.

Notable individuals with the Xiong surname:#

• Xiong Ansheng: A Confucian scholar from the Northern Dynasties, one of the leading figures of Northern Confucianism. His courtesy name was Zhizhi. He was from Fucheng, Changle (now east of Fucheng, Hebei Province). Well-versed in the Five Classics and the “Three Rites,” he served as a professor at the Imperial Academy during the Northern Qi Dynasty. In the first year of Emperor Wudi’s reign (578 AD), he became a professor at the palace’s academic institution but passed away shortly thereafter. He followed the Confucian teachings of the Eastern Han Dynasty and wrote commentaries on the “Rites of Zhou,” “The Book of Rites,” and the “Classic of Filial Piety.”
• Xiong Tingbi: From Jiangxia, Huguang (now Wuchang, Hubei Province), he was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Ming Dynasty. In the 47th year of the Wanli reign (1619), he was appointed as the deputy minister of the Ministry of War and tasked with overseeing military affairs in Liaodong. He gathered displaced people, reorganized military commands, and strengthened defenses, preventing the Jin forces from attacking. When Emperor Xizong ascended the throne and Wei Zhongxian gained power, Xiong Tingbi was removed from his position. After the fall of Liaoyang and Shenyang in the first year of the Tianqi reign (1621), he was reappointed as the military commander but later clashed with the governor, Wang Huazhen. When Wang’s forces were defeated, Xiong Tingbi retreated with them and was later unjustly executed by Wei Zhongxian.
• Xiong Damu: From Jianyang, Fujian Province, he was a compiler and publisher of popular novels during the Ming Dynasty. He authored works such as “Complete Biographies of the Han Dynasty,” “Biographies from the Tang Dynasty,” “Continuation of the Song Dynasty Biographies,” and the “Romance of the Yang Family Generals.” His epic poems were distinctive and innovative in style.