The Dá Clan#

Clan Name: Dá (pronounced: dá)

Distribution of the Dá Clan#

• Jian'an Commandery: Located in present-day Jian’ou, Fujian Province. It was established at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty by separating from Houguan County. During the reign of the Sun Wu dynasty, Jian'an Commandery was created from a division of Kuaiji Commandery, with Jian’an County as its administrative center. This marked the beginning of the separation of Fujian and Zhejiang into separate administrative regions. Over time, Jian’an Commandery’s jurisdiction gradually shrunk to the area now in the northwestern part of Fujian Province. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, it was known as Minzhou or Jianzhou.

Origin of the Dá Clan#

The Dá surname originates from:

1. Place names: “Dá” was originally the name of a commandery in Jianzhou, which was later renamed Jian’an, referring to the area around present-day Jian’ou County, Fujian Province.
2. Ethnic groups: The Dá surname can also be found among the Hui ethnic group.

Migration and Distribution

The Dá surname does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. According to the “Tongzhi·Shizu Lue” (Comprehensive Records of Clans and Lineages), the founder of the Dá clan was Song Dáchen, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Song dynasty. The Dá clan has thrived in the Jianzhou region of southern China for centuries and is particularly prevalent in this area; it is less common in other places. Jianzhou was a commandery established during the Tang dynasty and later renamed Jian’an Commandery, covering the area of present-day Jian’ou County, Fujian Province. The porcelain produced in Jianzhou during the Song dynasty was famous, especially the Jianyao bowls, some of which were presented to the emperor. This region was reputed to be elegant, which likely contributed to the creation of high-quality tea sets favored by the imperial court. Consequently, many members of the Dá clan there were probably cultured and talented individuals. According to the ancient text “Shixing Luekao” (A Brief Study of Surnames), in addition to Jianzhou, the Dá clan is also found in Jurong County, Jiangsu Province. During the early Qing dynasty, Jurong in Jiangsu was home to many scholars and literati who enjoyed the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. One notable figure was Dá Chongguang, who was renowned for his calligraphy and painting skills and played a significant role in the history of Chinese art. The Dá clan has a long-standing reputation in the Jian’an Commandery (the area around present-day Jian’ou, Fujian Province).

Hall Names

• Jian’an Hall: Named after the historic Jian’an Commandery.

Notable People with the Dá Surname

• Dá Chen: A successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Song dynasty from Jianzhou, Fujian Province. He is considered the founder of the Dá clan in this region.
• Dá Chongguang: Also known as Zai Xin (1623–1692), with the courtesy name Jiangshang Waishi. He was from Jurong, Jiangsu Province, and resigned from office due to his opposition to certain policies. He was skilled in calligraphy and painting and was one of the four great masters of his time, along with Jiang Chenying, Wang Shifu, and He Zhuo. He was also an expert in classical literature and authored works such as “Shufa” and “Huazhuan”. He was not only one of the four great artists but also enjoyed a reputation for integrity and integrity as an official.