The He Lian Clan#

Clan Name: He Lian, pronounced as hè lián

Regions Where the He Lian Clan is Found#

• Shengle Commandery: Corresponds to the area east of Qixian County in present-day Shanxi Province.
• Bohai Commandery: Established during the Western Han Dynasty; corresponds to the coastal areas of present-day Hebei and Liaoning Provinces along the Bohai Bay.

Origin of the He Lian Clan#

The name “He Lian” originates from historical minority clans. There are two main theories regarding its origin:

1. During the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Bopo, a leader of the Tiefu tribe of the Southern Xiongnu, declared himself the King of Great Xia and adopted the surname He Lian. According to the “Book of Jin,” “Bopo, a descendant of Liu Yuanhai, usurped the throne and proclaimed himself Heavenly King. His ancestors moved from the north to Youzhou and changed their surname to Yao; however, this was considered inappropriate as it differed from the Chinese tradition. Therefore, they followed their mother’s surname, Qi. It is not customary for descendants to adopt their mother’s surname. In ancient times, surnames were not fixed; some were derived from one’s birth, while others from the name of one’s father. I will change this tradition according to propriety. As a king, he represents the brilliance of heaven, and his lineage is connected to the heavens. Hence, I am changing our surname to He Lian, in accordance with the will of heaven, to enjoy eternal prosperity and honor. The dignity of the emperor should not be shared with others. All non-orthodox descendants will adopt the surname ‘Tiefa.’ May my clan be as strong and valiant as iron.” From this, it is clear that from Liu Yuanhai onwards, his descendants adopted the surname He Lian.

2. From the Western Jin to the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Tuyuhun tribe also used the surname He Lian.

Founder of the Clan: He Lian Bopo. According to the “Tongzhi: Clan Profiles,” the He Lian clan descended from Liu Qubi, the Right Worthy King of the Xiongnu. After establishing the Xia kingdom, Bopo called himself “Yun He Lian Tian” and adopted the surname He Lian. This is also recorded in the “Records of Xia.” The “Book of Jin” provides detailed details about how Bopo changed his surname. During the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties when the Xiongnu invaded China, many Xiongnu tribes became emperors in China. They carefully chose their surnames. Bopo explicitly stated in an imperial edict that only his legitimate descendants could inherit the He Lian surname; others had to use the surname “Tiefa.” This clan, being descended from the Xiongnu, became assimilated into Chinese culture over time. The descendants of He Lian Bopo lived in the Bohai Commandery (around present-day Cang County, Hebei Province).

Distribution of the Clan: The He Lian clan is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. The surname originates from the Xiongnu, who took wives from the Han dynasty. During the Han Dynasty, a Xiongnu tribe led by Liu Qubi adopted the Liu surname and later changed it to He Lian, symbolizing a connection with heaven. The Xiongnu often changed their surnames, which was different from Chinese customs due to their more primitive social structure and unstable inheritance of power and wealth.

Notable Figures with the He Lian Surname:

• He Lian Tao: A talented scholar from the Tang Dynasty from Zhangpu, Fujian Province, known for his free-spiritedness. He was among the “Eight Sages of Minzhong” along with Chen An, Wang Gong, Xiao Shu, Lin Xian, Chen Dan from Fuzhou, and Zhan Xiong.

The He Lian clan has a rich historical background and a significant presence in Chinese culture.