The Fu Clan#

Clan Name: Fu, pronounced as “fú”.

Regions Where the Fu Clan Is Found#

Baekji County: Baekji, formerly known as Dongyi by the ancient people. The name “Baekji” originated from the fact that a hundred families contributed to the construction of a bridge over the sea; this region was located on the Korean Peninsula at that time.

Liaodong County: In Chinese history, the term “Liaodong” had multiple meanings:

1. It referred to a county or kingdom. During the Warring States period, the Yan state established a county here, with its administrative center in Xiangping (present-day Liaoyang, Liaoning Province), governing the area east of the Daling River.
2. It was also the name of a military command. In the fourth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming dynasty (1371), the Dingliao Duwei was established, which was later renamed Liaodong Duwei in the eighth year of the Hongwu reign (1375), with its headquarters in Dingliao Zhongwei (present-day Liaoyang, Liaoning Province), covering most of the Liaoning region.
3. It was a military fortress, one of the “Nine Frontiers” of the Ming dynasty, with the main garrison located in Guangning (present-day Beizhen, Liaoning Province); during the Longqing reign (1567), the garrison was moved to Liaoyang. This military structure was abolished towards the end of the Ming dynasty.
4. It broadly referred to the area east of the Liao River.

Pingling County: This corresponds to the Wenshui County in the Lüliang area of present-day Shanxi Province.

Origins of the Fu Clan#

The Fu clan has multiple origins:

1. It originated from the Jiang clan, descending from Fu Zidan, a high-ranking official of the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period. The clan name was derived from his ancestral name.
2. It originated from the Korean ethnic group, stemming from the tribes of Fu Fushun and Fu Dang during the Baekji kingdom on the Korean Peninsula in the Tang dynasty. These tribes adopted Chinese surnames as part of the sinicization process.
3. It originated from the Mongolian ethnic group, also through sinicization.
4. Some members of the clan changed their surnames as a reward from the Ming emperor, such as Zhang Fushi.
5. It originated from the Manchu ethnic group, with similar sinicization processes.
6. It also originated from other minority ethnic groups, resulting from the adoption of Chinese surnames.

Founder of the Clan: Fu Zidan is considered the progenitor of the Fu clan. Although there are different theories about his origin, according to “Xing Shì Kǎo Lüè,” Fu Zidan was a high-ranking official of the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period. Another theory suggests that the surname was changed later. The “Tang Shū · Tū Jué” mentions the Fu clan as one of the eight prominent clans of Baekji during the Tang dynasty. After the fall of Baekji, some of its descendants migrated to the Central Plains and simplified their surname to “Fu” following Chinese customs, becoming a branch of the Chinese Fu clan. Another branch of the Fu clan traces its origin to Zhang Fushi of the Ming dynasty. During the Jiajing reign, Emperor Shizong praised him for his integrity and bravery, prompting Zhang Fushi to adopt the surname “Fu” as a sign of imperial favor. Many descendants of the Fu clan regard Fu Zidan as their ancestor.

Migration and Distribution: The Fu clan has a diverse ethnic and historical background. Although it does not rank among the top 300 surnames in mainland China, it is ranked 964th in Taiwan Province, with its origins traced back to Baekji County. The clan is not among the top 100 surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. According to “Xing Shì Kǎo Lüè,” during the Spring and Autumn period, a nobleman named Fu Zidan from the state of Qi gave rise to a branch of the Fu clan. Another branch of the clan emerged during the Tang dynasty. The “Tang Shū · Tū Jué” also mentions that the Baekji kingdom on the Korean Peninsula had conflicts with the Silla kingdom, and the Tang dynasty helped conquer Baekji. Some of the Baekji royal descendants settled in the Central Plains and adopted the Chinese surname “Fu.” A third branch of the clan appeared during the Ming dynasty, with Zhang Fushi, a talented minister who was praised by the emperor for his integrity. Many descendants of the Fu clan honor Fu Zidan as their ancestor.

Hall Names:

• Baekji Hall: Named after the region of Baekji.
• Liaodong Hall: Named after the region of Liaodong.
• Pingling Hall: Named after Pingling; also known as Wuxing Hall or Wenshui Hall.

Notable People with the Surname Fu:

• Fu Yu: A renowned monk at the Shaolin Temple in Songshan during the early Yuan dynasty, who was one of the most famous abbots of Shaolin in that period. After his death, the Yuan emperor posthumously granted him the title of “Duke of Jin.”