边姓
The Bian surname originated in ancient China, with key roots in Shang and Zhou dynasties. It has ancestral halls, migrated from Central Plains to places like Zhuji, and produced notable figures like Bian Shao and Bian Su, with historical distribution in Chenliu and Jincheng commanderies.
The Bian Clan
Surname: Bian, pronounced as “biān”.
Distribution of the Bian Clan
- Chenliu: Chenliu County was established in the 26th year of King Zheng of Qin (221 BCE), and Chenliu Commandery was established during the Han Dynasty, located in the present-day Kaifeng area of Henan Province.
- Jincheng: Jincheng Commandery was established in the 6th year of the Yuanshi era of the Han Dynasty (81 BCE), covering the region west of Lanzhou in Gansu Province and east of Qinghai Lake in Qinghai Province. The administrative center was in Yunwu (now northwest of Yongjing County, Gansu Province). During the Sui Dynasty’s Daye era, as well as the Tang Dynasty’s Tianbao and Zhide periods, Lanzhou was renamed Jincheng Commandery again.
Origins of the Bian Clan
The surname “Bian” has the following origins:
- During the Shang Dynasty, there was a vassal state called Bian (the exact location is unknown). Its ruler held the title of Bojie (Lord Bian), and from then on, the surname Bian became hereditary. During the Zhou Dynasty, there was also a high-ranking official named Bian Bojie.
- The surname also originated from the Zi (Zi) clan. In the Zhou Dynasty, the son of the ruler of the Song state was named Cheng (also known as Yurong), with the courtesy name Zibian. His descendants adopted the surname Bian as their own.
Hall Names: “Fusixiang Hall”: Bian Shao of the Later Han Dynasty was known for his literary talents and had hundreds of students. Once, while sleeping during the day, his students mocked him, saying, “Bian Xiaoxian, with a plump belly, too lazy to study, only wanting to sleep.” Bian Shao replied, “‘Bian’ is my surname, and ‘Xiaoxian’ is my courtesy name. A plump belly is like a container for the Five Classics. When I think about the classics, I dream of the Duke of Zhou; in tranquility, I share the same aspirations as Confucius. How can such mockery be justified by any written record?” Later, Bian Shao became the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.
Migration and Settlement: There are communities with the Bian surname in Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province, with a population of about 20,000 people. These ancestors migrated from the Central Plains approximately a thousand years ago. Bian Su is the progenitor of the Bian clan in Zhuji. The “Ji Yang Tong Shan Bian Clan Genealogy,” compiled in 1920, includes a preface written by Wei Liaoweng of the Song Dynasty, which recounts the ancestral relationship between Jin Gong (courtesy name Shenfu, also known as Jingqi) and Bian Su. According to the document, Jin Gong was a court official who moved to Zhuji and, concerned about the loss of family traditions, collected and organized historical records to preserve them for future generations. It is mentioned that Bian Su had three sons: the eldest, Shiyin, did not pursue a official career; the second, Shougong, served as an assistant in the Western Sichuan Commandery and displayed great talent; and the youngest, Jichang, settled in the Zhuji area. After four generations, a descendant named Jinggong moved to Henan, and his descendants spread out across various locations.
Notable Figures: Wei Liaoweng (1178–1237), from Pujiang, Qiongzhou (now in Jiangxi), was a prominent Neo-Confucian scholar who served as a court official during the Song Dynasty. He wrote the “Ji Yang Tong Shan Bian Clan Genealogy” in the 1222nd year of the Jiading era. The “Biography of Bian Su” in the “History of the Song Dynasty” compiled by Tuotuo during the Yuan Dynasty (Volume 301, Biography 60) states the following: Bian Su, from Chuchiu, Yingtianfu, passed the imperial examinations and served as a judicial officer and the prefect of Yuqian County. He was later promoted to various high-ranking positions. When the emperor needed assistance with financial management, he was appointed to oversee the financial affairs. After completing his duties, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Works. During an imperial visit to Daming Prefecture, he was tasked with managing the supply of provisions for the imperial entourage. Later, he was transferred to other positions and finally settled in the area of Songmenli in Hangzhou, where his descendants flourished.