The Miao Clan#

Clan Name: Miao, Pronunciation: miào

Distribution of the Miao Clan#

Zaozhuang, Shandong Province, and the southeastern part of Teng County

Origin of the Miao Clan#

The Miao clan originated from the Ying surname, with its name derived from a posthumous title. According to the "Yuanhe Xing Zuan" and "Tongzhi·Shi Zu Lue·Yi Shi Wei Shi," during the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Mu of Qin was a prominent ruler. His posthumous title was "Miao" (which is also pronounced as "Miao" in Chinese). tracing back to its roots, the Miao clan descended from the Ying lineage. Duke Mu of Qin was one of the Five Hegemons of that era. His original name was Ren Hao, and he ruled for thirty-nine years. After his death, he was given the posthumous title "Miao." Since the characters "Miao" and "Mu" were pronounced the same in ancient Chinese, Duke Mu of Qin is sometimes referred to as both "Duke Mu of Qin" and "Duke Miao." His descendants adopted his posthumous title as their clan name.

Duke Mu of Qin was a capable ruler, but the state of Qin emphasized military power over cultural governance, and many of its administrative practices were not enlightened. For example, upon his death, three of the most renowned virtuous scholars in the state were ordered to be buried with him, on the belief that those who had accompanied him in life should also accompany him in death. Confucius strongly opposed such practices. After Qin Shi Huang established his empire, he burned books and buried scholars alive, as their ideas about governing the state clashed with his own. The descendants of the Miao clan revered Duke Mu of Qin as the founder of their clan.

Notable Individuals with the Miao Clan Name

Miao Changqi: From Jiangyin, he was an early member of the Donglin Party during the Ming Dynasty. His courtesy names were Dashi and Youyuan, and his pseudonym was Xixi. He was posthumously honored with the title Wenzhen. Known for his extensive knowledge and high moral standards, he advocated for reform and innovation. He became a successful scholar in the imperial examinations in the 41st year of the Wanli reign (1613) and was appointed as a scholar in the Hanlin Academy. In the 1st year of the Tianqi reign (1621), he served as the Left Zanshan and later rose to the position of Yude. As an early member of the Donglin Party, he was referred to as "Zhiduo Xing Wu Yong" in the "Donglin Dian Jiang Lu." He faced hostility from Wei Zhongxian due to the Donglin Party's opposition to Wei's policies. He was later arrested and executed in prison amid the Wang Wenyan scandal. His works include "Congye Tang Cun Gao" (8 volumes), "Zhou Yi Jiu Ding" (16 volumes), "Si Shu Jiu Ding" (14 volumes), and "Miao Shi Jia Xun" (the family instructions of the Miao clan).