The Zheng Clan#

Surname: Zheng, pronounced as “zhèng”

Distribution of the Zheng Clan#

1. Xingyang Commandery: Established during the Three Kingdoms period, with its administrative center in Xingyang.
2. Luoyang: One of the ancient capitals of China. The former cities of the Han and Wei dynasties are located in today’s Baima Temple in Luoyang.
3. North bank of the river; the former cities of the Sui and Tang dynasties were 18 li (about 9 kilometers) west of the Han city.
4. Gaomi Commandery: Established during the Western Han period, with its administrative center in Gaomi, corresponding to the area of present-day Gaomi, Shandong.
5. Yongzhou: Established during the Eastern Han period, with its administrative center in Chang’an.
6. Longxi Commandery: Established during the Warring States period, with its administrative center in Dido.
7. Nanyang Commandery: Established during the Warring States and Qin dynasties, with its administrative center in Wan County.

Origin of the Zheng Clan#

The Zheng clan is one of the Chinese surnames, ranking 7th in the traditional “Hundred Surnames” list. It originates from the Ji clan, with its founding ancestor being Duke Huan of Zheng, the first ruler of the state of Zheng. After the state of Zheng was conquered by the state of Han, its people adopted the Zheng surname. Since the establishment of Xingyang Commandery during the Three Kingdoms period, those who trace their lineage back to the Zheng clan claim to originate from Xingyang. There has long been a saying that “the Zheng clan throughout the world comes from Xingyang,” indicating that the main origin of the clan is in the central region of present-day Henan.

Origin of the Surname “Zheng”#

The surname “Zheng” comes from the name of a state. According to historical records, King Xuan of Zhou granted his younger brother a fief in the state of Zheng (located east of present-day Huaxian, Shaanxi), who became Duke Huan of Zheng. After Duke Huan, Duke Wu of Zheng moved the capital to Xincheng, making it a prominent state during the Spring and Autumn period. The state of Zheng was later conquered by the state of Han, and its people dispersed to areas such as Huaiyang and Shangqiu, adopting the name of their former state as their surname.

Founding Ancestor of the Zheng Clan#

Duke Huan of Zheng is considered the founding ancestor of the clan. During the period of the state of Zheng, King Xuan of Zhou granted his younger brother, You, the fief of Zheng. Duke Huan’s descendants adopted the name of their former state as their surname, marking the beginning of the Zheng clan.

Hall Names Associated with the Zheng Clan#

• Bojing Hall: Zheng Xuan of the Eastern Han dynasty was a scholar who had a broad knowledge of various classics; thousands of people traveled from afar to study under him.
• Anyuan Hall: During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, Zheng Ji served as an official. He defeated the Cheshi tribe and was later appointed as the Protector of the Western Regions, earning the title of Marquis Anyuan.

Migration and Spread of the Zheng Clan#

During the Pre-Qin period, the Zheng clan, which was originally based in Shaanxi and Henan, began to spread to regions such as Sichuan, Shanxi, Shandong, and Hebei. During the Han dynasty, they moved to Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Three major migrations from the Central Plains to Fujian occurred during the Jin dynasty and at the beginning and end of the Tang dynasty, with many settling in eastern and southern Fujian. At the end of the Ming and beginning of the Qing dynasty, Zheng Chenggong led a resistance against the Qing and established himself in Taiwan.

Population of the Zheng Clan#

In the Song dynasty, there were approximately 750,000 people with the Zheng surname, accounting for about 0.97% of the national population, ranking 20th. Fujian was the province with the largest concentration of Zheng clansmen, accounting for about 25% of the total. The clan is primarily distributed in Fujian, Henan, and Zhejiang, with these three provinces accounting for 50% of the total population. Other significant populations are found in Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangsu, and Anhui.

Famous People with the Zheng Surname#

• Duke Zhuang of Zheng: A prince of the state of Zheng during the early Spring and Autumn period who stabilized the country and became a regional power through clever diplomacy and military strategy.
• Zheng He: A famous Ming dynasty navigator born in 1371, whose surname was changed from Ma Sanbao to Zheng by Emperor Chengzu of Ming. He led several expeditions and became a prominent figure in Chinese maritime history.
• Zheng Chenggong: A leader in the late Ming dynasty who resisted the Qing dynasty and established himself in Taiwan.
• Zheng Xie: A scholar from the Qing dynasty known for his poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and who lived a reclusive life.