The Gong Clan#

Clan Name: Gong, Pronunciation: gōng

Distribution of the Gong Clan#

• Wuling Commandery: During the Western Han Dynasty, the administrative center was located in Yiling (now south of Xupu, Hunan Province); during the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was moved to Linyuan (now Changde, Hunan Province).
• The term “Liugui” (Six Fragrant Clans): Refers to the reputation of six prominent clans. In the Sui Dynasty, the administrative center was in Min County (now Fuzhou, Fujian Province); during the Tang Dynasty, it was moved to Jinjiang (now Quanzhou, Fujian Province).

Origins of the Gong Clan#

The origin of the “Gong” clan can be traced to the following:

1. It originated from the “Gong” clan, which changed its name to “Gong” to avoid persecution. This change occurred around the end of the Warring States period and the transition to the Qin and Han dynasties.
2. According to the Tang Dynasty’s “Yuanhe Xing Zuan,” the “Gong” clan descended from Gonggong. However, this is more of a mythical legend and not considered a solid historical basis.

Hall Names of the Gong Clan

• Zhongyin Hall: During the Song Dynasty, Gong Zongyuan served as the magistrate of Jurong County. He was highly effective in solving cases, searching for hidden criminals, and chasing fugitives, earning him the respect of many. Once, Yang Hong (the brother of Emperor Wen of Sui), who was known for his harsh governance, was ordered to inspect various regions. When he reached the border of Jurong, he said, “This place is already well-managed by Mr. Gong; my visit would only cause trouble for him,” and thus he went elsewhere. Gong Zongyuan later retired and built the “Zhongyin Hall.” Both the court and the public hailed him as a virtuous elder. Other common hall names include “Liugui Hall,” “Gengdu Hall,” and “Bohai Hall.”

Population and Distribution

• In the Song Dynasty, there were approximately 150,000 people with the Gong surname, accounting for about 0.2% of the national population, ranking 84th in popularity.
• The largest concentration of Gong clans was in Anhui Province, accounting for 19.3% of the total national population. The distribution was mainly concentrated in Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hunan, Fujian, and Hebei, with these five provinces together accounting for 81% of the total national population.
• During the Ming Dynasty, the population increased to about 300,000, ranking 71st in popularity. Jiangsu Province was again the most populous region for the Gong clan, accounting for 25.7% of the total national population. The main distribution areas remained the same as in the Song Dynasty.

Population Growth

Over the centuries, the population of the Gong clan has shown a trend of moving from the north to the southeast. From the Song to the Ming Dynasty, the clan’s population nearly increased by seven times, growing from 300,000 to over 2 million. The growth rate of the Gong clan was slower than the national population growth rate. Today, the Gong clan is the 16th most common surname in China, with a population of 2 million, accounting for about 0.16% of the national total.

Current Distribution

The current distribution of the Gong clan is as follows:

• Hunan, Jiangsu, Hubei, and Sichuan account for approximately 43% of the national population.
• Henan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, and Chongqing account for another 26%.
• Anhui has the largest concentration of the Gong clan, accounting for 13% of the total national population.

The high prevalence of the Gong clan in the Yangtze River basin is notable. In recent 600 years, the migration pattern has shifted from the eastern regions of Anhui and Jiangsu to central and northern China, as well as southern regions like Guizhou and Sichuan. The frequency of the Gong clan in various regions indicates that it is particularly prevalent in areas with a strong historical presence, with populations accounting for over 0.3% in many places.