Wu Clan#

Clan Name: Wu, pronounced as “wū”

Distribution of the Wu Clan#

• Taiyuan Commandery, Shanxi Province
• Nanchang Commandery, Jiangxi Province

Origins of the Wu Clan#

The origin of the Wu clan can be traced to two different lines:

1. From the “Qu Yuan” lineage: This lineage originates from the fourth son of Lu Zhong during the Spring and Autumn period, named Qu Yuan, who took the name of his fief as his clan name. According to “Shi Xing Cao Lue,” Qu Yuan was granted the fief of Wu (located in present-day Yanshi City, Henan Province), and his descendants adopted this name. This branch of the Wu clan is known as the Wu clan.

2. From the “Wu Zang” lineage: This lineage stems from Zang, a retainer of the Qi family, a high-ranking official of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period. Zang was granted a fief in Wu (present-day Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province), and his descendants also adopted the name of their fief as their clan name. This branch of the Wu clan is also considered the Wu clan.

Pioneers of the Clan: Sima Mimou and Wu Zang are considered the founders of the Wu clan. Sima Mimou is mentioned in the great historical work “Zuo Zhuan” by Zuo Qiuming, where it is stated that he was a prominent official of the State of Jin. Wu Zang was also a prominent official of the State of Jin and held a fief in Wu.

According to “Ming Xian Shi Zhu Yan Lei Gao,” Sima Mimou’s descendants adopted his name as their clan name. Both Sima Mimou and Wu Zang were significant figures in the history of the State of Jin.

Clan Spread: The Wu clan is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. Although the exact lineage of later generations of the Wu clan is uncertain, both Sima Mimou and Wu Zang are regarded as honorable founders of the clan, having been important figures in the history of the State of Jin. The Wu clan has a rich historical heritage that spans thousands of years.

Additional Information: The Wu clan’s origin can also be traced back to Lu Zhong, the grandson of Emperor Ku. According to “Guo Yu,” Lu Zhong’s fourth son, Qu Yuan, was granted the fief of Wu, which led to the establishment of the Wu clan. The clan later spread to various regions, including Nanchang, Fuzhou, and Chongren in Jiangxi Province during the Spring and Autumn period. Modern Wu clan members take pride in their heritage, as both of their founding fathers were important individuals in ancient China.

Notable Individuals with the Wu Clan Name#

• Wu Kunru: A contemporary scholar from Longchuan, Guangdong Province. He graduated from the Department of Philosophy at National Taiwan University, earned a Master of Theology from the University of Silverburg in Austria, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Munich in Germany. He has taught at National Taiwan University, Fu Jen University, Chinese Culture University, and the Political Science Research Institute of the Political Warfare School. He has also served as a professor of theology at Taiwan Theological College and as a research fellow at the “Academy of Chinese Learning.” In 1977, he furthered his studies in comparative cultural philosophy in West Germany. Wu Kunru has authored over ten books in Chinese and German, as well as more than a hundred papers in Chinese, German, and English, covering a wide range of philosophical topics.