The Miao Clan#

Clan Name: Miao#

Pronunciation: miáo

Distribution of the Miao Clan#

1. Shangdang Commandery: Established during the Qin Dynasty, with its administrative center in Huguan (north of present-day Changzhi, Shanxi). It was later moved to the area west of present-day Changzi, Shanxi during the Western Han Dynasty.
2. Jiyin Commandery: Originally the State of Dingtao during the Han Dynasty, it was later transformed into a commandery, with its administrative center in present-day Dingtao, Shandong.
3. Dongyang Commandery: Established by the state of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period, with its administrative center in Changshan (present-day Jinhua, Zhejiang). It was renamed Jinhua during the Chen Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties.

Origin of the Miao Clan#

The origin of the Miao clan can be traced to three main sources:

1. From the Mi clan: According to "Tongzhi · Shizú Lüè", "Yuanhe Xìngzuǎn", and "Fēngsú Tōng", during the Spring and Autumn period, Bo Fen, a grandson of Ruo'ao of the Chu state and a high-ranking official of Chu, was executed for a crime. His son, Ben Huang, fled to the state of Jin and was granted land in the Miao area (the ancient city is located west of present-day Jiyuan, Henan). His descendants adopted the name of the place as their clan name.
2. From a famous physician in ancient times: It is said that there was a famous physician named Miao Fu in ancient times, from whom the Miao clan name may have originated.
3. From other ethnic groups or through name changes: The Miao clan also exists in other ethnic groups. For example, the Miao clan was a prominent family in the ancient Korean state of Baekje; during the Qing Dynasty, there were Manchu people with the Miao surname who lived in Shenyang; the Ashapu clan of the Lahu ethnic group adopted the Chinese surname Miao. Today, the Miao surname can be found among the Manchu, Yi, She, Mongolian, Uyghur, Dongxiang, Hui, and other ethnic groups.

Ancestor of the Clan: Miao Ben Huang Ben Huang was a member of the royal family of the Chu state and the son of Bo Fen (also known as Douyuejiao). Bo Fen, being disloyal to the Chu state, launched a rebellion when King Zhuang of Chu sought to conquer the Central Plains. However, he was soon executed. Fearing retribution, Ben Huang fled to the state of Jin, where he was granted land in the Miao area. Later, when there was conflict between Jin and Chu, Ben Huang provided strategic advice to the Jin ruler, suggesting that they attack the Chu army's flanks first and then combine their forces to defeat them. This strategy led to a decisive victory for Jin. Because Ben Huang received land in the Miao area, his descendants adopted the name of the place as their clan name and honored him as their ancestor.

Migration and Settlement#

The Miao clan's original territory, known as Miao Yi, is located in the western part of present-day Jiyuan, Henan. There is still a place called "Miao Ting" in that area, which is believed to be the site of the ancient Miao territory. After the division of the Jin state among three families, the Miao clan spread to regions such as present-day Shanxi and Hebei due to official positions. During the late Warring States period, the Miao clan's homeland in Jiyuan was affected by wars, prompting many to migrate north to present-day Changzhi, Shanxi, or east to present-day Dingtao, Shandong. Over time, the Miao clan flourished in these areas, becoming prominent in the Shangdang and Jiyin commanderies.

During the Han Dynasty, several notable Miao individuals are mentioned in historical records, including Miao Zi, a military expert; Miao?, the advisor to Wang Mang; Miao Meng from Fucheng (present-day Baofeng, Henan); and Miao Si from Youzhou. Particularly noteworthy is Miao Guang, the Marquis of Dong'a during the Eastern Han Dynasty, who is said to have preserved his fief in present-day Dong'a, Shandong. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Miao clan, like other Central Plains aristocratic families, fled the wars and migrated south across the Yangtze River to Jiangdong. A branch of the Miao clan settled in the Jinhua area of Zhejiang, eventually forming the third major stronghold of the Miao clan, Dongyang Commandery. From the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Miao clan was mainly prominent in the Shangdang and Jiyin commanderies.

Famous Individuals with the Miao Surname#

• Miao Shou: A general from Shangdang, Lu Zhou (present-day Changzhi, Shanxi), who served in the Northern Song Dynasty. He achieved numerous military successes in battles against the Qiang and Western Xia tribes and was promoted to various military positions before serving as the governor of Lu Zhou.
• Miao Zhong: A minister from Dingyuan, Fengyang Prefecture (present-day Anhui), who was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Ming Dynasty and served as the Minister of War. He authored several historical works, including "Shige Jiwén", "Guíhuì Lù", and "Xuěwō Gǎo".