The Suo Clan#

Suo is the surname, pronounced as suǒ.

Distribution of the Suo Clan#

• Wucheng Commandery: During the first year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (581 AD), Dingyang Commandery was renamed Wucheng Commandery, with its administrative center in Dingyang County (present-day Jixian County, Shanxi Province).
• Wuwei Commandery: Established during the Western Han Dynasty, it corresponded to the region west of the Yellow River and east of Wuwei in present-day Gansu Province.
• Fengyi Commandery: Established by Emperor Wu of Han as one of the Three Auxiliaries. During the Three Kingdoms period (Wei), it was renamed Feng, with its administrative center in present-day Dali County, Shanxi Province.

Origin of the Suo Clan#

The Suo surname has two origins:

1. Descendant of the Zi Clan: One branch of the seven prominent clans of the Shang Dynasty, descendants of King Tang. According to the "Yuanhe Xingzuan," the nobility of the Shang Dynasty formed seven prominent clans. After the fall of the Shang Dynasty, the Zhou Dynasty was established. King Wu of Zhou granted the eldest son of Duke of Zhou, Boqin, the territory of Lu (in present-day Shandong Province), and relocated six of the Shang clans to Lu: the Xu, Tiao, Xiao, Suo, Changshao, and Weishao clans. The Suo clan played a significant role in the overthrow of King Zhou of Shang and later became a prominent family in Lu.
2. Surname Change: During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, many non-Chinese people settled in the Central Plains, some of whom changed their surnames.

Distribution of the Suo Clan#

The Suo surname does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. In ancient times, King Wu of Zhou defeated King Zhou of Shang and established the Western Zhou Dynasty. Among the remnants of the Shang Dynasty were seven prominent clans, many of whom were talented individuals. The Suo clan was one of these six clans. King Wu of Zhou respected them but feared they might revive the Shang Dynasty. After the rebellion of Wu Geng, Duke of Zhou decided to relocate the six clans to Lu and appointed Boqin as the ruler of Lu, both to ensure their peaceful settlement and to keep them under surveillance. According to the "Yuanhe Xingzuan," the Suo clan originated from the seven major clans of the Shang Dynasty, with their ancestral homeland in Dunhuang and Wuwei. The Suo clan has a history of approximately 4,000 years.

Hall Names: Common hall names for the Suo clan include "Wuwei Hall" and "Qiu Suo Hall."

Common Couplets for Suo Clan Ancestral Halls#

• Couplet for the Suo Clan Ancestral Hall (Four Characters):

  • "Originating from the Shang Dynasty; Prominent in Wuwei." (Alludes to the clan's origins and its historical associations.)
  • "Mastering the Two Arts of Calligraphy; Well-versed in the Five Classics." (References to Suo Jing, a calligrapher from the Western Jin Dynasty, and his contributions to literature and astronomy.)

• Couplet for the Suo Clan Ancestral Hall (Six Characters):

  • "A prominent clan from Dunhuang; A wise figure from the north." (References to the Suo clan's roots in Dunhuang and its members' wisdom.)
  • "Ranked among the seven great clans; Renowned for their talents." (Highlights the clan's status and members' achievements.)

• Couplet for the Suo Clan Ancestral Hall (Seven Characters):

  • "The Suo clan's scholars were unmatched in the Wei dynasty; Their strategies were formidable against enemies." (Emphasizes the clan's military prowess and strategic achievements.)

These couplets celebrate the history and contributions of the Suo clan.