Ngân Cung originates from the Ji clan, and it is a family that took the name of their ancestor as their surname. It comes from Nan Gong Zi, one of the four friends of King Wen of Zhou. This surname was very famous in ancient times and remains well-known today, with its descendants being widely recognized by the public. Let our Huayi editor introduce some unknown facts to you!
What are the house names and main migration locations of the Nan Gong clan?
The house name, originally meaning the name of a hall or room, is a term used to represent a family's identity and an essential part of family culture. For the same surname, people of the same lineage would write the house name on the plaque of their ancestral temple or family shrine for worship and sacrifice. Therefore, the house name also implies the name of the ancestral hall, serving as a marker to indicate the origin and lineage of a family, distinguish between different branches, and symbolize the family's culture, which is used to honor ancestors and promote family unity. It reflects the awareness of roots and the veneration of ancestors.
Therefore, like the "commandery and county," the house name is a unique concept in Chinese surname culture and is something that people must understand when searching for their ancestry.
Commandery and County
Henan Commandery: In the Qin Dynasty, it was called San Chuan Commandery. In the second year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty (Bing Shen, 205 BCE), it was renamed Henan Commandery, with its capital at Luoyang (now Luoyang, Henan). At that time, the area included the region south of the Yellow River, downstream of the Luo River and Yishui River, upstream of the Shuangjia River and Jialu River, and the northern part of the Yuan Yang County. It had twenty-two counties, roughly corresponding to areas such as Mengjin, Yan Shi, Gongyi, Xingyang, Yuan Yang, Zhongmu, Zhengzhou, Xinzheng, Xinmi, Linru, Ruyang, Yichuan, and Luoyang in present-day Henan Province. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, as Luoyang became the capital, the status of Henan Commandery was elevated, and its officials were no longer called "Prefect" but "Governor." In the early Sui Dynasty, Henan Commandery was abolished, but later restored as Yuzhou Henan Commandery. In the Tang Dynasty, it was known as Luozhou Henan Fu, and its territory was much smaller than during the Han Dynasty. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was called Henan Road, and during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was known as Henan Fu. In the Republic of China era, it was established as Henan Province, and this continues to this day.
Lu Commandery: Also known as Lu State or Lu Commandery, East Lu Commandery. In the early Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu of Han changed the former Xue Commandery of the Qin Dynasty into Lu State, with its capital at Luyi (now Qufu, Shandong). During the Three Kingdoms period, the state of Cao Wei and the Jin Dynasty changed it to Lu Commandery, with its territory covering areas around Qufu, Sishui, and Ziyang in present-day Shandong Province. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Northern Qi Dynasty changed it to Rencheng Commandery. Additionally, there was a Lu Prefecture Lu Commandery in the Sui Dynasty, where Luyi was renamed Wenyang County, followed by the restoration of the original name of Qufu, with its capital at Yanzhou. In the Tang Dynasty, there was a Yanzhou Lu Commandery, although it covered Qufu, its capital was still at Yanzhou, moving the original capital of Lu Commandery to Zizhen (Zi County, Dezhou, Shandong).
Nan Gong: This refers to the current Nangong City, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Xingtai City, Hebei Province. Since the early Western Han Dynasty, the name Nangong has been continuously used. According to legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man named Nan Gong Shi, also known as Zi Rong, who was a person from Lu and lived in this area, known for his virtue and fame. He was called Nan Gong Zi. When Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty established a county, he used the surname of Nan Gong Zi as the county name to show it as a "land of propriety and righteousness," which is the origin of the name Nangong County. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Nangong was part of the state of Jin. In the Warring States Period, it belonged to the state of Zhao. In the Qin Dynasty, it was part of the Julu Commandery. In the Western Han Dynasty, Nangong County was established. During the Xin Mang period, it was called Xuxia, with its old city located three miles west of the current city in the village of Old City (North and South Old City). In the southeast, there was also a Liao County, with its old city located 23 miles southeast of the current city. Initially, Nangong County belonged to the Xinde Commandery of Ji Zhou, and during this time, it was once three times granted as Guangchuan State and then returned to Xinde Commandery. Later, it belonged to Xinde State (which was sometimes a commandery and sometimes a state, with several changes). Liao County initially belonged to the Qinghe Commandery of Ji Zhou, and later became the Qinghe State (which alternated between a state and a commandery, with many changes). During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liao County was merged into Nangong County, initially belonging to the Xinde Commandery of Ji Zhou. In the 15th year of Emperor Mingping (Ren Shen, 72 CE), it was granted as Lecheng State. In the first year of Emperor Yanguang (Ren Xu, 122 CE), it was renamed Anping State. In the first year of Emperor Zhongping (Jia Zi, 184 CE), it was renamed Anping Commandery. During the Three Kingdoms period, the state of Cao Wei, Nangong County belonged to Anping Commandery. During the Jin Dynasty, Nangong County was initially part of the Anping State of Ji Zhou. In the fifth year of Taikang (Jia Chen, 284 CE), it was renamed Changle State. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Nangong County belonged to the Changle Commandery of Ji Zhou. In the second year of Taipingzhenjun (Xin Si, 441 CE), the county of Jing (now in Weixian) was merged into it. In the tenth year of Taifa (Bing Yin, 486 CE), it was re-established. During the Northern Qi Dynasty, Nangong County was abolished. In the sixth year of Kaihuang (Bing Wu, 586 CE), Nangong County was re-established, initially belonging to Ji Zhou. In the third year of Daye (Ding Mao, 607 CE), it was transferred to Xinde Commandery. During the Tang Dynasty, Nangong County was initially part of Zongzhou (established in the fourth year of Wu De, 621 CE). In the ninth year of Wu De (Bing Xu, 626 CE), it was transferred to Ji Zhou. Starting from the first year of Zhen Guan (Ding Hai, 627 CE), Ji Zhou was under the Hebei Dao. In the second year of Longshuo (Renzhi, 662 CE), it was renamed Weizhou. In the third year of Xianheng (Renshen, 672 CE), it was renamed Ji Zhou again. In the first year of Tianbao (Renyu, 742 CE), it was reduced to Xinde Commandery. In the second year of Zhide (Dingyou, 757 CE), it was raised back to Ji Zhou. During the Five Dynasties period, Nangong County remained under Ji Zhou. During the Song Dynasty, Nangong County belonged to the Hebei East Circuit Ji Zhou. In the fourth year of Huangyou (Renchen, 1052 CE), the town of Xinhe in Nangong County was separated to establish Xinhe County, and Nangong County was merged. In the sixth year of Xining (Guichou, 1073 CE), Nangong County was re-established, and Xinhe County was merged into a town. After entering the Jin Dynasty, it continued to follow the Song system. During the Yuan Dynasty, in the fourth year of Taizong (Renchen, 1232 CE), the area of the former Xinhe County of Nangong was divided to re-establish Xinhe County, and Nangong County belonged to Zhen Ding Road Ji Zhou. During the Ming Dynasty, in the sixteenth year of Chenghua (Gengzi, 1480 CE), Nangong County moved its seat to Feifeng Gang (now the city center), belonging to Zhen Ding Fu Ji Zhou. During the Qing Dynasty, it belonged to the Zhili Province Ji Zhou. In the second year of the Republic of China (Gui Chou, 1913 CE), Nangong County belonged to the Zhili Province Ji Nan Dao. In the third year of the Republic of China (Jia Yin, 1914 CE), it was renamed Da Ming Dao. In the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (Wuchen, 1928 CE), it directly belonged to Hebei Province. In the twenty-fifth year of the Republic of China (Bingzi, 1936 CE), it was assigned to the Fourteenth Inspection District of Hebei Province. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, in the twenty-seventh year of the Republic of China (Wuyin, 1938 CE), the Ji Nan Area was established, belonging to the Jinji Lu Yu Border Region (established in 1941 CE), and Nangong County was the thirteenth special area of the Ji Nan Area. After the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan, since the end of the thirty-fourth year of the Republic of China (Yi You, 1945 CE), Nangong County has always belonged to the fourth special area of the Ji Nan Area. In the thirty-seventh year of the Republic of China (Wu Zi, 1948 CE), the North China People's Government was established, and the Jinji Lu Yu Border Region was abolished. Nangong County was transferred to the North China Administrative Region Ji Nan Area Fourth Special Area. On August 1, 1949, Nangong County was assigned to the Xingtai Special Zone of Hebei Province. On October 1, 1949, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Nangong County remained in the Xingtai Special Zone. On April 28, 1958, the Xingtai Special Zone was abolished, and Nangong County was assigned to the Handan Special Zone. On December 20, 1958, Weixian and Qinghe Counties were merged into Nangong County. On May 3, 1960, the Handan Special Zone was abolished, and Nangong County came under the jurisdiction of Handan City. On May 23, 1961, the Xingtai Special Zone was re-established, and Nangong County was returned. On July 9, 1961, Weixian and Qinghe Counties were re-established from Nangong County. In 1970, the Xingtai Special Zone was renamed Xingtai Region, still under the jurisdiction of Nangong County. On March 5, 1986, Nangong County was approved by the State Council to become a city. In July 1993, the Xingtai Region and Xingtai City were merged, and Nangong City came under the jurisdiction of Xingtai City.
House Name
Nan Gong Hall: Established based on the commandery.
Henan Hall: Established based on the commandery.
Donglu Hall: Established based on the commandery, also known as Lu State Hall or Rencheng Hall.
Where do the main migration locations of the Nan Gong clan currently reside?
According to historical records in the book "Shang You Lu," "Nan Gong is of the Ji surname, the descendant of Nan Gong Zi, one of King Wen of Zhou's four friends." The earliest origin is from Nan Gong Zi, one of the four friends of King Wen of Zhou, whose descendants became the Nan Gong clan. The origin of the Nan Gong surname is in Donglu Commandery (now Shandong), and it has a history of over two thousand years.
There are two other theories: one is that during the Spring and Autumn Period, Meng Xizi, son of the Minister of Rites of Lu, was named Ku, and lived in Nan Gong, taking the place name as his surname, thus becoming the Nan Gong clan. The other theory is that Nan Gong Yue of Lu lived in Nan Gong and took the place name as his surname, and his descendants followed suit.
Notably, in 2005, in the Western Zhou tombs at Hengshui Town, Hengbei Village, Jiangxi Province, the tomb of the Lord of Penglun (M2) and the tomb of Lady Bi Ji (M1) were unearthed. The bronze vessels found in these tombs, such as the yu, have forms and decorations typical of the middle Western Zhou period, estimated to be from the reign of King Mu. These tombs are contemporary with the tombs of the Jin Hou at Beizhaogu (M91, M92), which belong to the Duke Jing of Jin and his wife, dating to the late Western Zhou period, during the reign of King Li to the Regency of the Commoner. The bronze vessels of the Peng clan are particularly typical, such as the large bird zun purchased by the Poly Art Museum in 2004, with the inscription "Peng Ji made this ancestral zun for his ancestors."
The Peng clan had a close relationship with the Zhou dynasty. The wife of Lord Peng in Hengbei Village, M1, was called Bi Ji. From the inscriptions on the Peng Zhong Tripod, we know that the Peng and Bi clans intermarried. Among the scattered bronze vessels, there are inscriptions showing the marriage between the Peng and Nan Gong clans. Both the Bi and Nan Gong clans were prominent families of the dynasty, and the Yu clan, which had similar relationships with the Nan Gong clan, also had marital records, such as a tripod in the Cultural Relics Protection and Archaeology Institute of Xi'an, with the inscription "Wu (Yu) Wang Ji made this Nan Gong Shi Shu Zhu Ding."
These archaeological materials indicate that the Nan Gong clan had already been an influential and prominent family during the early and mid-Western Zhou period.
Early members of the Nan Gong clan mainly lived in the areas of Hebei, Henan, Shandong, and the Korean Peninsula. After the Han Dynasty, they formed a prominent family in Shandong, with Lu Commandery as their commandery. During the Song Dynasty, the Nan Gong clan had already migrated to Jiangxi, but the details of the migration remain to be further verified.
Today, small numbers of Nan Gong clan members can be found in places such as Nanchang, Jiangxi; Changchun, Jilin; Xingtai, Hebei; Nanyang, Henan; Penglai, Shandong; Beijing; Hong Kong; North Korea; South Korea; and Japan.
