The Gu Liang Clan#

Clan Name: Gu Liang (pronounced: gǔ liáng)

Distribution of the Gu Liang Clan#

• Xiapí Commandery: During the Qin Dynasty, Xiápí County was established in the area northwestern of present-day Suining, Jiangsu. In the 15th year of the Yongping era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (72 AD), Linhuái Commandery was renamed Xiápí State. During the Song Dynasty of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it was again renamed Xiápí Commandery, with its administrative center in Xiápí (present-day Suining, Jiangsu). The jurisdiction at that time extended from present-day Xinyi and Pí counties in Jiangsu to Jiashan County in Anhui Province, and to present-day Lianshui County, Huai'an City, and Qingjiang City in Jiangsu.
• Xīhé Commandery: The exact location of this commandery in ancient times was not consistently defined. During the Spring and Autumn period, the western border of the State of Wei along the Yellow River was referred to as Xīhé, which corresponds to present-day Xun and Hua counties.

Origins of the Gu Liang Clan#

The Gu Liang clan has the following origins:

1. From agricultural practices: The name originates from the grain cultivation industry, reflecting a tradition of using the names of crops as clan names. In ancient times, some tribes with advanced agriculture took pride in producing high-quality grains. Grains were called “liáng,” and clan leaders who were skilled in growing these grains adopted “Gu Liang” as their clan name. Over time, the character for “liáng” evolved into “liáng,” leading to the current spelling of the clan name.
2. From place names: The clan name also comes from the ancient city of Gu Liáng, reflecting a tradition of using the names of settlements as clan names. There was a commandery called Guboling (equivalent to present-day Anping and Anguo counties in Hebei Province), which contained the city of Gu Liáng. Residents there adopted the name of the city as their clan name. In ancient times, the character for “gu” (grain) had multiple forms and was used interchangeably; thus, the clan name Gu Liang came into use. After the Spring and Autumn period, the compound clan name gradually split into the single-clan names Gu and Liang.

Migration and Distribution

The Gu Liang clan is an ancient Han Chinese clan. However, its population does not rank among the top 300 in mainland China or Taiwan Province. In the Song Dynasty version of the “Hundred Family Surnames,” it was ranked 457th. The clan originated from the Xiápí and Xīhé commanderies. Although the Gu Liang clan is well-known, it is not among the top 100 in mainland China or Taiwan Province. Its fame is largely attributed to Gu Liang Chi, the author of the “Spring and Autumn Gu Liang Commentary.” Although Gu Liang Chi had no direct connection with Confucius, he can still be considered part of Confucius’ teachings, as his teacher, Zi Xia, was one of Confucius’ most distinguished disciples. Many ancient texts agree on the origins of the Gu Liang clan, as mentioned above. According to “The Search for the Origins of Surnames,” the clan originated from Xiápí. After the Spring and Autumn period, the compound clan name Gu Liang gradually split into the single-clan names Gu and Liang.

The Gu Liang clan may be an ancient Chinese clan, but its population has not made it into the top 300 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan Province. It has a history of over 2,800 years and originated from the Xiápí and Xīhé commanderies. There are five villages with the Gu Liang surname in Dingtao County, Heze City, Shandong Province, with a population of about 10,000 people, all claiming to be descendants of Gu Liang Chi. The “Gu Clan Genealogy” records that the ancestor of the Gu clan was named Gu Liang Chi, also known by the courtesy name Yuanshi. He offered sacrifices to Confucius during the reign of Emperor Gao of Han in Lu. These villages, with the Gu surname, were established in the early Western Han Dynasty. Gu Liang Chi’s tomb is still located behind the Gu clan hall in Guzhuang Village, and the ancient tombstone remains.

Hall Names

• Xiapí Hall: Named after the clan’s ancestral home in Xiápí.
• Xīhé Hall: Named after the clan’s ancestral home in Xīhé.

Notable Figures with the Gu Liang Surname

• Gu Liang Chi: A native of the State of Lu during the Warring States period and a disciple of Zi Xia. His “Spring and Autumn Gu Liang Commentary” was written down during the Western Han Dynasty. This work, also known as “Gu Liang Chunqiu” or “Gu Liang Zhuan,” is a key text of the Confucian tradition. It was compiled from the first year of Duke Yin of Lu (722 BC) to the 14th year of Duke Ai of Lu (481 BC) and explains the “principles” of the Spring and Autumn Annals in a question-and-answer format. Its relatively neutral approach makes it an important resource for studying ancient Confucian thought.
• Gu Liang Shu: Also from the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period, she compiled 15 volumes of commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals and was a prominent figure in her time.

The Gu Liang clan has a long history, dating back more than 2,800 years. Its fame is largely due to the contributions of Gu Liang Chi. Although Gu Liang Chi had no direct connection with Confucius, his teacher, Zi Xia, was a key disciple of Confucius. Many ancient texts provide similar accounts of the clan’s origins. The clan’s ancestry can be traced back to Xiápí, and the name evolved from “Gu Liang” to “Gu” and then to “Liang.” According to historical records, the Gu Liang clan originated in Shandong Province during the Spring and Autumn period.