Rong Family Name#

Rong is the family name, pronounced as “róng”.

Distribution of the Rong Family Name#

Nankang Commandery: It was established during the Jin Dynasty as a separate commandery from Luling Commandery. It corresponds to the area around present-day Nankang and Ganzhen in Jiangxi Province.

Gaoyang Commandery: Originally a city during the Warring States period, it was later turned into Gaoyang Commandery of Qingzhou during the Northern Wei Dynasty, located in the vicinity of present-day Gaoyang County, Hebei Province.

Origin of the Rong Family Name#

The origin of the Rong family name is simple: it traces back to ancient times and is descended from the Gaoyang clan of Emperor Zhuanxu. One of Zhuanxu’s descendants was Zhu Rong, who served as the deity of fire (one of the five elements) during the reign of Emperor Ku. Zhu Rong’s tribe originally resided in the Central Plains but later moved to the south of the Yangtze River, where they mixed with ethnic minorities. Among them was the Mi clan, which later founded the state of Chu. Descendants of Zhu Rong split into two branches: the Zhu and Rong families, hence the historical saying that “the Zhu and Rong families share the same ancestry.”

Ancestor of the Rong Family Name

Zhu Rong was a tribal leader in ancient times. His descendants formed the Zhu and Rong families. Zhu Rong was also revered as one of the deities of the five elements (metal, wood, water, and earth) and was the god of fire. His ancestor was the Yellow Emperor, and Zhu Rong was a descendant of Zhuanxu, one of the Yellow Emperor’s sons. Of the Yellow Emperor’s twenty-five sons, Zhuanxu was particularly distinguished. After the Yellow Emperor’s tribe became powerful, its territory expanded. The Zhu Rong tribe, originally from the Central Plains, migrated to the south of the Yangtze River and mixed with local people. Many prominent Rong family members came from Jiangxi, which was formerly known as Nankang Commandery. Zhu Rong’s status as the god of fire has been passed down through the ages, and he is also revered as the god of the kitchen stove, a deity closely associated with people’s daily lives. Therefore, the descendants of the Rong family honor Zhu Rong as their ancestor.

Migration and Distribution

The Rong family name does not rank among the top 100 most common family names in either mainland China or Taiwan. It is said that during ancient times, Zhu Rong’s descendants took his name as their surname. Since the Zhu Rong tribe expanded their territory and migrated south, the majority of prominent Rong family members have come from Jiangxi, which was known as Nankang Commandery.

Hall Names

Gu Huang Tang: In the text “Bai Hu Pi Ru Tong Yi,” Fu Xi, Shennong, and Zhu Rong are considered the Three Emperors, preceding the Yellow Emperor, which is why the Rong family name is also referred to as “Gu Huang” (Ancient Emperors).

Common Couplets for Rong Family Ancestral Halls

• Four-character couplet: “Derived from the deity of fire; originating from Nankang.” (Refer to the sections on the origin of the Rong family name and its historical associations.)
• Six-character couplet: “Descendant of the divine Yan Emperor; legacy of Zhu Rong.” (Zhu Rong is said to be a descendant of the Yan Emperor and served as the deity of fire during the reign of Emperor Ku.)
• Seven-character couplet: “With a passionate heart for the country; upholding just principles for the people.” (This couplet emphasizes the Rong family’s commitment to the state and its values.)

Anecdotes and Legends about the Rong Family

Zhu Rong is a long-established god of fire worshipped in China. According to Luo Mi’s “Lu Shi·Qian Ji,” Zhu Rong was a skilled fire manager and discovered methods of starting fires, including by striking stones. He was also credited with inventing the fire attack strategy. Zhu Rong was born into a tribal society and was known for his love of fire. He played a key role in the development of fire-related technologies and civilizations, especially in the southern regions. Legends about Zhu Rong reflect the ancient people’s reverence for fire and their reliance on it for survival and warmth.