The Zhan Clan#

Surname: Zhan, pronounced as “zhān”

Regions Where the Zhan Clan is Found#

• Bohai Commandery: Established during the Han Dynasty, its administrative center was initially in Fuyang (present-day Cangzhou, Hebei Province), later moved to Nanpi (northeast of present-day Nanpi, Hebei Province).
• Hejian Commandery: Originally part of the Hejian Kingdom during the Han Dynasty, it was turned into a commandery during the Northern Wei Dynasty, with its administrative center in Lecheng (present-day Xian County, Hebei Province), and later moved to the southwest of present-day Hejian, Hebei Province.

Origins of the Zhan Clan#

There are five theories about the origin of the Zhan surname:

1. It originates from the Ji surname, tracing back to the descendants of King Wen of Zhou. According to the “Xing Yuan” (Garden of Surnames), King Xuan of Zhou granted a fief to one of his sons named Zhan, who established the state of Zhan, and his descendants adopted the state name as their surname.
2. According to the “Lu Shi” (History of Routes), it is said that the ancient emperor Shun of Yu granted the title “Zhan” (which means “to behold with respect”) to a descendant of the Yellow Emperor; these descendants adopted this title as their surname.
3. In the “Bai Jia Xing Yuan Su Yuan” (Tracing the Origins of Hundred Surnames), it is mentioned that an official position during ancient times called “Zhan Yin” (Diviner Zhan) existed, and some people adopted this position as their surname.
4. The “Xing Shi Kao Lue” (Brief Examination of Surnames) states that during the Spring and Autumn Period, there were people named Zhan Jia in Jin and Zhan Bo in Zheng, who adopted the names of their towns as their surnames.
5. The Zhan surname can also be found among ethnic groups such as the Mongols, Tujias, indigenous peoples of Taiwan, and the Shui people.

Ancestor of the Zhan Clan

The ancestor of the Zhan clan is Marquis Wen of Zhan. He descended from the Ji surname and was a descendant of King Wen of Zhou. During the reign of King Xuan of Zhou, a branch of his family was granted a fief in Zhan (the exact location is unknown), where they established the state of Zhan and were granted the title of marquis, historically known as Marquis Wen of Zhan. His descendants continued to serve as officials for the Zhou dynasty. Marquis Wen served as an advisor to King You of Zhou, but after witnessing King You’s indulgence in his concubine Bao Si and his decline in moral integrity, he resigned and returned to his fief. King You’s reckless actions eventually led to the fall of the Zhou dynasty, but Marquis Wen and his descendants survived unharmed. Since Marquis Wen was the first to be granted the fief in Zhan, he is revered as the ancestor of the Zhan clan.

Clan Titles

Common clan titles include “Hejian,” “Kui Guang,” and “Jie Shen” (Upright Character).

Spread and Migration of the Zhan Clan

The Zhan clan has a long history with complex origins. According to the “Ci Yuan” (Source of Terms), there were figures named Zhan Fu and Zhan Hengbo during the Zhou Dynasty, who are said to have descended from a branch of King Xuan of Zhou. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Zhan surname was found in Jin (present-day Shanxi), Guo (northwest of present-day Zhengzhou, Henan), and Zheng (present-day Xinzheng, Henan). During the Warring States Period, there was a sorcerer named Zhan He in Chu (present-day Hubei), and in the Western Han Dynasty, there was a chieftain named Zhan Shilu of the Xiongnu people. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were also people from the Wuling region (south of present-day Xupu, Hubei) with the surname Zhan. Historical records show that during the Han Dynasty, the Zhan clan was primarily concentrated in the ancient Bohai and Hejian commanderies. The Yongjia Rebellion in the Jin Dynasty caused widespread displacement, and the Han people began to migrate southward. This was the first major ethnic migration in Chinese history. During the Tang and Five Dynasties periods, the Zhan clan continued to spread, with many people moving to southern regions to escape chaos. In the Ming Dynasty, the clan further expanded, with members moving to coastal areas such as Fujian and Taiwan. During the Qing Dynasty, the Zhan clan became even more widespread, with people traveling to Southeast Asia.

Clan Characteristics

1. The Zhan clan is a typical southern Chinese surname.
2. The migration of the Zhan clan to the south during the Yongjia Rebellion is documented by poems such as “Yongjia Yi Guan Nan Du” (Poems of the Yongjia Displacement to the South), which describe the hardships of the time.
3. Many famous individuals from the Zhan clan are mentioned in historical records from the Song and Ming dynasties, especially in the southern regions of China.

Conclusion

The Zhan clan has a rich history and a widespread distribution across China. Its origins are complex, with multiple branches originating from different periods and regions. The clan’s presence in various parts of China reflects its adaptability and longevity. Today, the Zhan surname is one of the most common in the country, with a significant presence in provinces such as Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Fujian. Despite some confusion in the use of the characters “zhan” and “zhan” in simplified Chinese, these are two distinct surnames.