The Shen Clan#

Surname: Shen, pronounced as "shēn"

Distribution of the Shen Clan#

• Wei Commandery: Established by Emperor Gao of Han. This area corresponds to the present-day Weixian County in Hebei Province, Jun County in Henan Province, and Guan County in Shandong Province.
• Langya Commandery: After Qin unified the six states, Langya Commandery was created, along with Langya County. The administrative center was in Langya (present-day Xihe City), and the county was under its jurisdiction. The Han dynasty continued this system, adding the states of Langya and Guixian, as well as the principality of Zhuzhi. During the Jin dynasty, Langya was abolished; the Sui dynasty re-established Langya County. In the Tang dynasty, it was again abolished, and its territories were incorporated into Jiaozhou and Zhucheng, after which it remained inactive for over a thousand years.
• Danyang Commandery: Established during the Han dynasty, with its administrative center in Wanning (present-day Xuancheng, Anhui Province). During the Three Kingdoms period, the state of Wu moved its capital to Jianye (present-day Nanjing); after the Sui dynasty conquered Chen, Danyang Commandery was abolished. Emperor Yang of Sui later re-established it with Jiangzhou (present-day Nanjing) as its base.

Origins of the Shen Clan#

There are three theories regarding the origin of the Shen surname:

1. From the Jiang clan: The surname originated from the state of Jiang. According to "Xing Shu Kao Lue," "Yuan He Xing Zuan," and "Shi Ji," at the end of the Shang dynasty, Bo Yi and Shu Qi, sons of the ruler of the state of Jiang (located around present-day Lulong, Hebei Province), refused to eat the food of the Zhou dynasty and died of starvation on Shouyang Mountain (in present-day Yongji, Shanxi Province). Their descendants settled in the area around the Da River. During the reign of King Xuan of Zhou, some of their descendants were granted the state of Shen in Xie (present-day Nanyang, Henan Province). The state of Shen was conquered by the state of Chu in the early Spring and Autumn period, and their descendants adopted the state name as their surname.
2. Those who did not migrate from the Da River area: Descendants of Bo Yi and Shu Qi crossed the river and settled in Shaanxi, where they became known as the "Shen Rong" or "Jiangshi Rong." They joined forces with the Quan Rong to attack the Zhou dynasty but were eventually conquered by Qin. Their descendants also adopted the surname Shen.
3. Descendants of the Yan emperor: Lu was granted the land of Shen, which is located around present-day Shanghai. The Huangpu River was originally called the Shen River (due to Huang Xie, a prince of Chu from the Warring States period). These descendants established the state of Shen and were known as the "Shen Lu." They were later conquered by Chu, and their descendants also adopted the surname Shen.

Ancestral Figure of the Shen Clan#

The ancestral figure of the Shen clan is Bo Yi, whose full name was Yun. He was the eldest son of the ruler of the state of Guzhu (located around present-day Lulong, Hebei Province) at the end of the Shang dynasty. When his father died, he persuaded his brothers not to fight in the war against the Zhou dynasty, arguing that it would be unfilial and unjust. After King Wu of Zhou defeated King Zhou of Shang, Bo Yi and Shu Qi refused to accept any rewards from the Zhou dynasty and died of starvation on Shouyang Mountain. Their descendants later settled in the area around the Da River. During the Spring and Autumn period, some of their descendants were granted the state of Shen in Xie by King Xuan of Zhou. The state of Shen was conquered by the state of Chu, and their descendants adopted the state name as their surname.

Migration and Distribution#

The Shen clan originated in the area around present-day Nanyang, Henan Province. In the early Spring and Autumn period, the state of Shen was quickly conquered by the powerful state of Chu, and its descendants likely adopted the state name as their surname. Many famous individuals with the Shen surname lived during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, including Shen Bo, Shen Bu Hai, Shen Yu, Shen Zhou, Shen Xi, Shen Kui, Shen Feng, and Shen Shuyi. These people were distributed in various states such as Lu, Zheng, Chu, Han, Jin, and Wu, indicating that the Shen surname had spread to regions including present-day Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hubei, Hebei, and Jiangsu. During the Western Han dynasty, there were many famous Shen individuals, such as Shen Dang from Liyang (present-day Liyang, Jiangsu Province) and Shen Shuo from Cangwu (now in Guangxi). From this period to the Eastern Han dynasty, the Shen surname also appeared in regions such as Donghai. During the late Eastern Han dynasty, Shen Xian, Shen Zhuan, and Shen Jun from the Eastern Han dynasty are mentioned in historical records, laying the foundation for the later prominence of the Shen clan in certain commanderies.

The Shen clan has a long history, dating back about 2,800 years. It has always been a prominent and respected family in China, with many talented individuals throughout history. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Shen clan produced many famous people, and their influence extended to various provinces across China. The Shen surname has a rich cultural heritage, with various ancestral halls and historical references reflecting its long history and spread.