The Qu Clan#

Clan Name: Qu, pronounced as "qú"

Distribution of the Qu Clan#

Songyang Commandery (Jinyun Commandery): An ancient administrative region that flourished during the Tang Dynasty and was abolished in the early Song Dynasty. It is located in the southwestern part of present-day Zhejiang Province.

Origins of the Qu Clan#

The origin of the Qu surname can be traced to three main sources:

1. From a personal name: During the Shang Dynasty, a high-ranking official was granted the fief of Qushang (located in present-day Shuangliu County, Chengdu, Sichuan Province), and he was named Qufu. His descendants adopted his name as their surname.

2. From a place name: According to the "Xuanhe Bogu Tu," a bronze vessel from the Shang Dynasty bears the inscription "Qufu Ding," indicating that the surname was derived from the name of the fief.

3. From a disciple of Confucius: Shang Qu, a disciple of Confucius, lived in Qushang and studied the "I Ching." Later inhabitants of the area adopted the names "Shang" and "Qu" from the place name.

Ancestral Symbol of the Qu Clan: The "Qufu Ding" (Bronze Vessel of Qufu) is considered the ancestral symbol of the Qu clan. According to the "Xingshi Kaolue," this artifact is one of the few remains from the Shang Dynasty that bear the name of the clan's founder.

Migration and Distribution: The Qu clan has not made it into the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. During the Shang Dynasty, an official named Qufu established the Qufu state, which gave rise to the surname. Throughout history, members of the clan have lived in various regions, including Songyang Commandery (now in Zhejiang Province).

The earliest records of the Qu clan can be found in historical texts and artifacts, with the "Qufu Ding" serving as a significant artifact that verifies the clan's origins.