The Min Clan#

Clan Name: Min, Pronunciation: mǐn

Areas Where the Min Clan Is Distributed**#

Dongxiang, Gansu Province; Sishui, Shandong Province; Taiyuan, Shanxi Province

Origin of the Min Clan**#

The Min clan ranks 191st among the most common surnames in China, with a population accounting for approximately 0.0002% of China's total population, which is around 260,000 people.

Origin of the Surname “Min”:

There is one theory regarding the origin of the surname “Min.” It is said to have stemmed from the Ji clan, with the surname being derived from a posthumous title. During the ancient Zhou Dynasty, after the death of Duke Zhuang of Lu, his son named Qi succeeded him as the ruler, becoming Duke Min of Lu. However, Duke Qi was assassinated by Qingfu less than two years after ascending to the throne. Due to his young age, he was given the posthumous title “Duke Min of Lu.” In ancient times, the characters “Min,” “Mǐn,” and “Mǐn” had the same meaning, all expressing pity or compassion. The descendants of Duke Min of Lu adopted this posthumous title as their surname, which has been passed down through generations.

Migration and Distribution:

The Min clan originated from the capital of the State of Lu—present-day Qufu, Jining, Shandong. During the Warring States period, the land of Lu was first conquered by the State of Chu and later occupied by the State of Qi. The Min clan members dispersed throughout Shandong. During the Qin and Han dynasties, they migrated to present-day Shaanxi, Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, and other provinces for various reasons, such as fleeing chaos, pursuing official careers, or seeking better living conditions. During the Spring and Autumn period, Min Zi Ma, a high-ranking official of the Zhou dynasty, was granted a fief in Longxi, which became a prominent family there for over four hundred years. In the mid-Eastern Han dynasty, some descendants of the Longxi Min clan moved west to Taiyuan, Shanxi, where they became a prominent family in the Taiyuan commandery. During the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Western Han dynasty, a Min family member was granted the title of “Guannei Hou” for his contributions, and his descendants settled in present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi.

During the Three Kingdoms, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, one of the largest migratory movements in Chinese history occurred, with Min clan members, like other Central Plains aristocratic families, fleeing chaos and settling in southern provinces such as Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Hubei. During the Tang and Song dynasties, they gradually spread across the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. During the Northern Song dynasty, a Min family member named Min Chengdao was sent on a diplomatic mission to Goguryeo and later settled in Lixing, Korea. At the end of the Song dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan dynasty, some Min clan members fled chaos and moved to present-day Guangdong. In the early Ming dynasty, the Min clan from Shanxi, along with other groups affected by the Hongdong Huaishu migration, was relocated to present-day Gansu, Shandong, Henan, Ningxia, Beijing, Tianjin, Shaanxi, and other places. In the late Ming dynasty, some Min clan members crossed the Taiwan Strait and migrated to Taiwan, while others traveled overseas to Southeast Asia, Europe, and America. Throughout the Qing dynasty and beyond, their distribution became even broader, with members settling in the three northeastern provinces, Inner Mongolia, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and other regions.

Today, the Min clan is widely distributed throughout China, with the largest population in Shaanxi. The Min clan ranks 191st among the most common surnames in China, with a population of about 260,000 people.

Notable People with the Surname Min:

• Min Sun: (536–487 BCE): Also known as Ziqian, from Wenshang, Lu during the Spring and Autumn period (Jining, Shandong). A prominent disciple of Confucius, he was known for his filial piety and virtue. He was a capable administrator and was posthumously honored with titles such as “Marquis of Fei,” “Duke of Fei,” “Duke of Langya,” and “Sage of the Capital Region.” He is revered as a “Sage of Deep Piety.”
• Min Hong: From Guangling (Yangzhou, Jiangsu) during the Three Kingdoms period. He served in the state of Wu as a minister but refused to join the state of Jin when called upon. He was renowned for his literary talent and was nicknamed “Southern Jin.” His works, although lost, include poems such as “Ode to Silkworm Farming,” “Ode to the Zither,” “Ode to the Feather Fan,” “Ode to the Lotus,” “Preface to the Ode to the Lotus,” and “Letters to Liu Zi Ya.”
• Min Lin Si: (1628–1704): Also known as Binlian and styled Gan’an, from Yansi Town, Huizhou (She County, Anhui). A scholar and traveler during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, he enjoyed traveling and composing poems. He compiled the 8-volume “Huangshan Zhi Ding Ben,” which is a comprehensive collection of historical records about Mount Huangshan, known for its well-organized and extensive content. His other works include “Lushan Ji,” “Comparative Study of Ancient and Modern Prefectures and Counties,” “Huangshan Pine and Stone Catalogue,” “Research on the Capitals and Counties of the Pre-Qin States,” and “Min Binlian’s Snow Poetry Collection.”