阚姓
The Kan clan, originating from Shandong's Wenshang, descends from Jiang Ziya and Spring & Autumn official Kan Zhi. It has two main origins from fiefs/states named Kan, with ancestral distribution in Tianshui and Kuiji commanderies, later migrating to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Taiwan, and Beijing.
The Kan Clan
Clan Name: Kan, pronounced as “kàn”
Distribution of the Kan Clan
- Tianshui Commandery: Tianshui was known as “Shang County” during the Western Han Dynasty and belonged to Longxi Commandery. It was established as Tianshui Commandery during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Tianshui Commandery was renamed Hanyang Commandery. During the Three Kingdoms period, it was a battleground between the states of Shu and Wei. Although its administrative affiliation changed over time, the name Tianshui has remained unchanged.
- Kuiji Commandery: In the 25th year of King Ying Zheng of Qin (222 BCE), Kuiji Commandery was established on the former territories of Wu and Yue, with its administrative center in Wu (present-day Suzhou). The original land of Yue was called Dayue and was part of Kuiji Commandery. In the 37th year of Qin Shi Huang’s reign (210 BCE), during his eastern tour, Dayue was renamed Shanyin, and the name Shanyin County originated from this time.
Origin of the Kan Clan
The Kan surname has two origins:
- Derived from the Jiang surname: During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a high-ranking official from the state of Qi named Kan Zhi, who was granted the fief of Kan (located southwest of present-day Wenshang County, Shandong Province). His descendants adopted the name of their fief as their surname, thus forming the Kan clan.
- Derived from the state name: In ancient times, there was a state called Kan (north of present-day Jiaxiang County, Shandong Province), which was a fief granted to the descendants of Jiang Shang, one of the important advisors to the Yellow Emperor. These descendants also adopted the name of their state as their surname.
Patriarch of the Kan Clan: According to the “Shangyou Lu,” the Kan clan descended from Kan Zhi, a high-ranking official from the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period. The Kan clan originated from Kuiji. The “Xingshu Kaolue” mentions that Kan was a place name during the Spring and Autumn period in the state of Lu, located in what is now Nangwang Lake, southwest of Wenshang County, Shandong Province. This place is considered the birthplace of the Kan clan, as their ancestors adopted the name of the place as their surname. According to the “Chunqiu Sanchuan,” in the 11th year of Duke Huan of Lu, Duke Huan met with Duke Wen of Song at Kan. Some local residents adopted the name of the place as their surname. The descendants of Kan Zhi are revered as the patriarchs of the Kan clan.
Migration and Distribution: The Kan surname is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. During the Spring and Autumn period, there was an official in the state of Qi named Zhi who was granted the fief of Kan and was known as Kan Zhi. His descendants adopted the name of the fief as their surname. The ancestral home of the Kan clan is in the Wenshang area of present-day Shandong Province. The ancestors of the Kan clan can be traced back to Jiang Shang, who assisted the Zhou kings Wen and Wu in establishing the state of Qi. The Kan surname therefore originates from the Jiang surname, which in turn traces back to the divine emperor Yan Emperor. Yan Emperor was born in the Jiang River area southwest of Qishan, Shaanxi, and his descendants adopted the name Jiang as their surname. A branch of the Kan clan migrated along the Jing-Hang Canal to areas such as Yixu, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Taiwan. Another branch moved westward along the Huai River and settled along its banks. During the late Ming Dynasty, some Kan descendants stationed in Nankou Town, Beijing, and were granted 45 ancient pine trees for their family graves by the imperial court for their military achievements. Many descendants of this branch live in Huyu Village, north of Nankou Town, Changping District, with about 200 people. Another branch moved north to Beijing around the time of the Republic of China and is now mostly distributed in Hugezhuang Township, Tongzhou District, Beijing, with about 150 people. Some descendants have also moved to other regions.
The Kan clan has not made it into the top 100 most common surnames in China. During the Spring and Autumn period, an official in the state of Qi named Zhi was granted the fief of Kan and was known as Kan Zhi; his descendants adopted the name of the fief as their surname. The ancestral home of the Kan clan is still in the Wenshang area of Shandong Province.