Ancestral Teachings

The following are teachings of Ancestor Huang Qiaoshan (in Chinese), in the form of 21 poems:

　

峭祖训子诗

一诫我儿念性天，从头细读蓼莪篇,

功劳十载衣衫破，乳哺三年骨肉穿，

虞舜耕田称大孝，仲由负米说前贤，

羔羊乌鸟犹知报，汝辈须当孝敬先。

　

二诫我儿各尽伦，棠隶竞秀乐天真，

长先幼后尊卑肃，兄友弟恭次序循，

富贵休嫌同骨肉，贫穷须念共慈亲，

茑萝松柏相依附，莫作寻常陌路人。

　

三诫我儿好立身，衣冠整肃壮精神,

行规坐矩亲贤友，脱俗离庸务正人,

虫蚁至微犹解化，蛇龙处屈尚能伸，

他年生子为人父，当效汤盘日日新。

　

四诫我儿当壮年，为人切莫软如绵，

刚柔相济须通变，强弱兼施要达权，

烈烈轰轰追往哲，欣欣侃侃慕前贤，

因循萎靡将何用，发奋无忘猛著鞭。

　

五诫我儿莫大宽，致恭之礼数千端，

持家处已须当俭，款客迎宾祗尽欢，

百事辛勤管饱暖，一身懒怠受饥寒,

随时用呀休虚耗，无了求人总是难。

　

六诫我儿莫腐儒，腐儒安得上享衢，

坚心锐志寻高第，努力抽身出下愚，

金玉运逸难保守，读书身在有盈余,

买臣宁戚如何达，挂角负薪尚读书。

　

七诫我儿莫好奢，闲居勤俭度年华，

瓮中有酒聊堪饮，囊中无钱勿去赊，

聚赌从来非正业，贪眠定是不成家，

世间日子如梭过，莫比朝开暮落花。

　

八诫我儿要主持，你妻须要识尊卑，

东邻争斗防宜早，西舍慈仁效勿迟，

礼义门庭天降福，温和家道日余赀，

柔声下气无烦恼，孝顺还生孝顺儿。

　

九诫我儿话平常，起家容易守家难，

终朝火蚀叮咛慎，至晚门庭仔细看，

屋宇漏穿宜葺理，墙头倒塌要修完,

日间吩咐儿童去，收拾牛羊一忱安。

　

十诫我儿诗十章，弟兄熟读细推详，

粗中带秀篇篇好，句内含情字字香，

母老必当亲奉待，官高犹要谦忠良，

语言警戒询难尽，你辈寻思意味长。

　

十一嘱儿性莫刚，为民须要秉温良,

奸枭处世名声丑，清白传家姓字香，

一面威风休使尽，十分相识莫称强，

英雄多少埋黄壤，只怕世人说短长。

　

十二嘱儿族衍蕃，弟兄伯叔及儿孙，

水源万派同源脉，树木千枝共本根，

出入言谈休犯上，往来动止要谦尊，

一门豫顺征和诤，宗祖维诚万古传。

　

十三嘱儿要老诚，为人心要秉公平，

亲朋有难相扶助，邻居无钱莫却情，

和气一团真是好，忍心直耐实为荣，

古人遣下千金诺，直道而行祸不生。

　

十四嘱儿外出时，为人切莫讨便宜，

肩挑贸易财须让，童叟相交理莫欺，

鸟宿投林先觅早，鸡鸣上道莫眠迟，

终身当看诗书语，行遍天涯总不危。

　

十五嘱儿莫宴安，为人度量总宜宽，

家庭有酒须招客，囊里无钱莫结宦，

邻居高低当逊让，亲朋贫富要盘桓，

乐天听命常知足，三戒随时可静观。

　

十六嘱儿莫乱争，立心忍耐重如诚，

粮田遗世虽长享，诗礼传家得美名，

万善切望儿守法，百行莫负我心情，

如今仔细寻思看，检点勤劳度一生。

　

十七嘱儿要审时，一斟一酌莫胡为，

人心暗似匣中剑，世事危如局内棋，

志气当尊良友谏，行藏莫让匪交知，

如今少有需陈可，结纳无钱各别离。

　

十八嘱儿守分寸，人生世莫似喽罗，

酒逢知己千杯少，话不投机半句多，

有福恰如游化日，无缘空费苦奔波,

是非只因多开口，祸惹临头怎奈何。

　

十九嘱儿性莫偏，人生常念受归全，

遇寒须求毛裘服，却暑还发竹簟眠，

立志惟存忠孝节，终身只望子孙贤，

我儿克永儒家业，父子恩情百世缘。

　

二十嘱儿话已酸，我儿切莫做无端,

三思到底诸般稳，一错扪心百事难，

淡泊闲穹无怨恨，贪婪瞒昧失忠肝，

损人利己终无益，木公生涯耐岁寒。

　

廿一嘱儿话已完，大家休费我田园，

钱粮照数先投刈，租税依期早纳官，

父母功劳山岳重，夫妻恩爱海情宽，

笔端难写平生语，千句拿来一句言。

　

If anyone could help to translate them into English, kindly contact the me.

Ancestor Identification Poem

认祖诗

骏马登程往异方，任从随地立纲常；
身居外境犹吾境，家住他乡则故乡；
朝夕莫忘亲命语，晨昏须荐祖宗香；
漫云富贵由天定，三七男儿当自强。

English Translation
by Ivan Yip (Canada) et al


TO MY CHILDREN

To those of you about to mount on the horses,

and leave for other parts of the country:

Look for the best places you can to settle down,

and to continue the lineage of our heritage.

Wherever you have chosen to plant your roots,

consider that as your new hometown;

For, though you are in the foreign land,

you will soon adjust to feel like home.

From morn till night,

please take to heart your old father's advice;

And do remember to burn incense to your ancestors at dawn and at dusk.

Although everyone says that wealth is elusive,

integrity and discipline are self-cultivated.

So I expect all of you especially my twenty-one sons

to uphold our ancestral pride.

This poem "Ren Zu Shi" 认祖诗 (literally means "poem to identify ancestry" is also known by other names, one of which is "Qian Zi Shi" 遣子诗, literally means "To My Children"). In AD 951, when Huang Qiaoshan (AD 872-AD953) instructed his 18 sons and their families to live separately, he composed the poem and passed them to his twenty-one sons so that future descendants could would know their ancestry. Later descendants also modified the poem in order to distinguish their respective branches. Hence, we can see at least 70 versions of the poem today but their meanings are basically the same.

The above version is the original poem by Huang Qiaoshan.

Biography of Huang Qiaoshan 黄峭山 (AD871-953)

117th Generation Ancestor

Huang Qiaoshan

(AD 871- AD 953)

Huang Qiaoshan 黄峭山 was a native of Heping 禾坪(和平), Shaowu 邵武, Fujian 福建, China. His personal name was Huang Yue 黄岳, aliases Huang Renjing 黄仁静 and Huang Qinggang 黄青岗. He was also known by the name Huang Qiao 黄峭.

Huang Qiaoshan was born into a family of ancient lineage on the 15th day of the 4th month in the 12th year of Xiantong 咸通 (AD 871) , according to the Huang Clan Genealogy of Shaowu (later dates in the Five Dynasties' Period or Song dynasty given in some Huang genealogies are erroneous and inaccurate- refer to a Research Article (In Chinese)). Huang Qiaoshan's great-grandfather, Huang Ying 黄鹰 was a native of Gushi 固始, Henan 河南 in north China, who had migrated south to Shaowu, Fujian. Huang Qiaoshan's father, Huang Xi 黄锡 (AD 845-AD 917) was the Magistrate of Heyang 河阳 (present-day Zixi county 资溪, Jiangxi Province 江西省).

During the last years of the Tang dynasty (AD618-907), there were widespread disorders and bandit gangs ravaged the countryside and attacked cities. Huang Qiaoshan helped organize a militia to protect the Shaowu countryside. News of his courage reached the Prince of Longxi 陇西郡王, Li Keyong 李克用, who appointed Huang Qiaoshan as a "battalion leader" 千夫长. Later, Huang Qiaoshan scored military merits and he was conferred "Qian Hu Hou" 千户侯 (Marquis of a Thousand Households) by Emperor Zhaozong 唐昭宗 in AD 895. The following year (AD 896), he was promoted to the position of "Vice-Minister of Works" 工部侍郎.

In AD 907, the Tang 唐 dynasty was overthrown by the traitorous official, Zhu Wen 朱温, who founded the Later Liang dynasty 后梁 (AD 907-AD 923). Huang Qiaoshan, who was a loyal official of Tang, grieved and refused food for several days. He refused to be involved in the power struggle between Later Liang and Later Tang 后唐 which followed. He retired from politics and returned to his ancestral hometown of Heping, Shaowu. At Heping, Shaowu, he founded the Heping Academy 和平书院. During this time, he also composed the famous poem Four Seasons 四季景诗. Heping Academy, which is one of the earliest academies in Fujian province had helped raise the level of education in Shaowu and nurtured many talents. During the Song dynasty (AD960-AD 1279) alone, Shaowu gave China 3 Prime Ministers, 6 Ministers of War and 136 Presented (Jinshi) Scholars for China.

According to legend, when Huang Qiaoshan was born, his father, Huang Xi planted a small camphor tree, and made a wish: "When you grow big, my descendants will prosper" 若汝长大,则吾宗繁衍昌盛. Many years later, this small tree grew into a big tall tree with many branches and lush leaves (This thousand-year old Camphor tree is still standing today in Shaowu!). Huang Qiaoshan had three wives- Shangguan Shi 上官氏, Wu Shi 吴氏 and Zheng Shi 郑氏 and 21 sons, 155 grandsons, 334 great-grandsons, a total of 510 persons in the family (not yet counting his daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law!).

After the fall of the Tang dynasty, China entered a turbulent period known as the "Five Dynasties' Period" 五代 (AD 907- AD 960). Huang Qiaoshan saw the rise and fall of short-lived dynasties, and sighed over the turmoil of his time. He firmly believed that the best way for the family's survival in the time of uncertainty was to disperse his family members. One day in AD 951, Huang Qiaoshan, who was 79 (80 sui) then, held a banquet where he invited his fellow clansmen. At the banquet, he gathered all his family members and instructed his 18 younger sons and their families to move out and live separately (only the eldest son from each of his three wives and their families were to remain at Shaowu). Huang Qiaoshan composed an Ancestral Identification Poem 认祖诗 and instructed it to be pass down through the generations so that future descendants would recognize one another and know their family roots. The sons of Huang Qiaoshan obeyed their father's words with heavy hearts. An auspicious day was chosen for them to set out. The 18 sons of Huang Qiaoshan and their families set out to live in 18 different places where they established their own lineages. Huang Qiaoshan's far-sightedness had helped his descendants survived the turbulent periods in Chinese history in the centuries that followed and ensured their prosperity. Over a millennium of development, the descendants of Huang Qiaoshan became very numerous and have spread all over China and overseas, and their numbers is estimated at 12 million today (which is two-fifths of all Chinese with the surname Huang today).

Huang Qiaoshan passed away peacefully on 10th day of 11th month in the 3rd year of Guangshun 广顺 (AD 953) at the age of 81 (82 sui) and was buried near his father's tomb on the slope of a hill in his hometown of Heping, Shaowu. The tomb of Huang Qiaoshan was designated a "Cultural Protected Site 文化保护单位 by the People's Government of Shaowu, Fujian Province, China on 15th April 1986. On 26th November 2003 and 16th December 2006, the Webmaster visited and paid respects at the ancestral tombs during his root searching trips to China.

Huang Clan Rules

黄氏家训

　

敦孝悌: 孝悌为百行之道，凡为人子弟者，当尽孝悌之道，不可忍灭天性，吾族香公纯孝，为继远祖美德，兹惟望吾族子孙，宜敦孝悌于家。 睦宗族: 宗亲有万年所同，虽支分派别，则源同一脉，不可相视为秦越。兹惟吾族务宜敦一本之祖，共成宗亲之道。 和乡邻: 乡邻为同井之居，凡出入相支，守望相助，切不可相残相斗，务宜亲异姓，如同骨肉之亲也。 明礼让: 礼让为持已处世道，非徒拜跪坐揖之仪，必使亢戾不萌，骄态不作，庶可成嫌让逊顺之风。 务本业: 士农工商各有其业，古人云：业精于勤，而荒于嬉。惟务本业者，乃得自食其力；自食其力者，而敢不专其事乎。 端士品: 士为四民之首，隆其名正，以贵其实也。故宜居仁由义，以成明体达用之学。若使偷闲，不惟上达无由，且士类有玷。 隆师道: 师道为教化之本，隆师重道，正以崇其教也。若不尊从，不惟教化不行，而且有褒渎之嫌，何得漫言传道。 修坟墓: 坟墓所以藏先人之魂骸，每年宜诣墓祭扫，剪除荆榛去其泥秽，以妥祖灵。切勿挖堀抛露，致使祖宗之怨恫。 戒犯讳: 同源苗裔，每派宜择定一字为名，凡属五服之内，嗣子孙不得犯父兄伯叔之名，也当共避之。 戒争讼: 争讼非立身之道。凡争必有失，讼则终凶。宜以忍让处之为尚，勿致有断情绝义之行，免倾家荡产之悔。 戒非为: 非为乃非人生可作可为之事，凡所行者，必要光明正大，天理良心。切勿贪财设计，贪色行奸，身败名裂，无地自容。 戒犯上: 自古尊卑上下，名分昭然。不得以卑凌尊，以下犯上，宜徐行后长，勿致有犯在上之失之罪也。 戒异端: 异端乃非圣人之道，所作乃无父无君之事也。愿吾族宗盟，若闻邪术妖言，宜必远之，勿至其累害也。 戒法律: 法律者，朝庭之律例也。凡人若犯王法律条，不怕你心如钢如铁，到期必有溶化之刑矣。宜必畏之免之。 戒轻谱: 家谱之修，所以叙一本也。谱编成帙，乃一家之宝，务宜同珍重，以便考查世系。切勿抛弃，以亵祖宗也，宜共凛之。 　 Huang Clan Rules Translation attempted by Carol Wong (Huang) Wai-Yi (Hong Kong) 1. Respect your elderly seriously, because this is a very important virtue among hundred of virtues. Do not do the reverse to destroy your nature. Descendants of Huang are expected to practice this virtue in their families. 2. Treat your relatives that are from the same Huang family well, because they are your relatives from the same origin, even though the family has been separated into different branches. Therefore do not treat each other as enemies. Unite the family as one, and love your relatives. 3. Treat your neighbors from the same village well, because you all share water from the same well. Always treat your neighbors as friends, help each other, but never try to hurt each other. Be close to your neighbors as if they are your “flesh and bone”, this is your duty. 4. Be polite and willing to give, politeness and giving are the method to deal with this world; do not only “kowtow” and greet people. In this way, you are actually playing a part in preventing proud from starting and growing. No proud, then there is modesty. 5. Do your own work. Soldiers, farmer, worker, and merchants, are the different working classes in Chinese society. The ancient people said, “ People become professional with their work. by working hard, but they become barren if they play too much.” Therefore, only those who accept their own responsibilities can make themselves able to make a living and be independent. 6. Respect people from the military, because military is the top of the four groups of people (Military, farming, worker, and merchants). Give them the rest that they deserved, as they are the ones who die for you in war. This is a very practical practice. 7. Make education the way of learning to deal with this world. This is the foundation of education. 8. Repair the ancestral graves. Every year, we should go there and pray to our ancestors. 9. Make names for your children that are balanced with tradition by not offending the elderly. 10. Avoid competition and accusation in a family. So that it does not result in breaking up the close relationships of the family, nor destruction of the family and bankruptcy. 11. Our every action must be open and justifiable by others and the heaven. Do not be greedy for money and make tricky plans, nor be sex-acholic, but to think deeply the significances behind when you see the “advantages”. 12. Avoid offending the ancestors. It has been a long tradition to notice the difference between dignity and inferiority. Do walk in the footstep of the elders. 13. Avoid deviant. Our family must work in union against this. When they hear persons speaking wick words, they should keep a distance from it, so as to avoid the harm. 14. Respect the law. 15. Treasure the clan genealogy book. It was passed down from your most ancient ancestors. Hold them close to you and our family will be great. It tells the true worth of the family. 　 English Translation Copyright Carol Wong (Huang) Wai-Yi (Hong Kong) 2003

Preface to the Huang Clan Genealogy Bestowed by Emperor Taizong of Tang

唐太宗赐御撰《始修黄氏宗谱序》

Above Emperor Taizong of Tang 唐太宗 (AD 626-AD 649)

Qing Dynasty Painting (National Palace Museum, Taiwan)

In ancient China, only clans with certain degree of power and prestige in the society could call for an official compilation of genealogy. Official compilation of clan genealogy would require the consent of the Emperor, and only clans which had made important contributions to the country and society would receive such special honour. Although compilation of the Huang Clan Genealogy began during early Zhou dynasty (1122 BC- 256 BC), official compilation of the Huang Clan Genealogy began only during the Tang dynasty (AD 618-AD 907).

Below is the preface of the Huang Clan Genealogy bestowed by Emperor Taizong of Tang in the 12th year of Zhenguan 贞观 (AD 638), which was a great honour bestowed on the Huang clan:



“蓬蒿之松，必蓄数百年而后高耸；泛滥之泉，必流数百里而始汪洋；苟蓄不久，流不长，则劝；寻常之木，涓滴之水耳。求其高、汪洋曷得乎?吾人之族，亦如是焉。尔矣始祖南陆公一人也，必积几十年，几百年而后子孙以千百计；几千年而后子孙以千万计；百百千万人之身，其初一人之身也；百百千万人之心，亦一人之心也；见其庐，则思吾祖所居也。而企心生焉。见其祠，则思吾祖所祀也；而敬心生焉。见其山与田，则思吾祖所创也；而勤心生焉。或有鳏寡孤独，所当悯者而吾悯之；贫穷患难所当惜者，而吾惜之；冠，婚，丧，祭，所当助者，而吾助之。忠，孝，廉，节，所当劝者，而吾劝之；梗，顽，奢，傲，所当惩者，而吾惩之。黄氏族人，得此观感者，莫不尊卑蔼焉!仁义以相亲，长幼以相序；虽有迁从之际，死亡之异，而皆翕然曰：“吾祖在也!”是当吉相庆而凶相扶；是几得其仁让之凤，而不坠先人之志耳! 由是而观，则蓬蒿之松为栋为梁，泛滥之泉，为江为海；而一人之后，为故家，为巨族，为名门；从可知矣。猗欤休哉! 兹奉圣天子，饬音纶序侍御史黄毅字左弘，创修家乘，不敢违时，谨此特序，敬呈御览，御裁已定，饬交侍御史黄毅刊刷谱首，以昭皇恩浩荡，圣德优渥，足征，黄氏为显门巨族。



大唐贞观十二年岁次戊戌仲春月 谷旦
唐秘书郎岑文本盥手 拜撰



If anyone could help to translate the text above into English, kindly contact the Webmaster.

Origin of the Huang Surname

Dialect Variants

Huang, Hwang(Mandarin)
Wong (Cantonese/Yue, Fuzhou, Hakka/Kejia, Gan)
Bong (Hakka/Kejia)
Huynh, Hoang (Vietnamese)
Hwang, Whang (Korean)
Ng (Hokkien/Min, Teochiew/Chaoshan)
Oei, Ooi, Oi, Uy, Wee (Hokkien/Min)
Ong (erroneous transliteration of "Ng")



The Huang Surname- Introduction

Huang2 is Chinese surname no.96 in "Bai Jia Xing " 百家姓 (Hundreds Family Surnames), a list of Chinese surnames compiled during the Song dynasty. Huang is the 7th most common surname in China in 2006 (Yuan Yida, 2006). The population of Huangs in China (including Taiwan) was estimated at more than 29 million in 2000; it was also the surname of more than 2 million overseas Chinese, many Vietnamese (no data available) and an estimated 1 million Koreans (The 2000 census of South Korea revealed Huang was the surname of 644,294 South Koreans, ranked 17th) .


Origin

Huang is an ancient surname which origin could be traced back more than 4,200 years to the days of the legendary sage emperors preceding the Xia dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Yao 尧帝, Hui Lian 惠连, son of Lu Zhong 陆终, a descendant of the Yellow Emperor 黄帝 (Huang Di) scored a merit in harnessing river floods, and Emperor Yao conferred on Hui Lian the state of Can'hu 参胡 (in present-day region of Fenyang 汾阳, Shanxi province 山西省, China). It was in the 96th year of Emperor Yao (2220 BC). Emperor Yao renamed Can'hu "the State of Huang" 黄国, and bestowed on Hui Lian the surname "Huang" 黄 and the name "Yun" 云. Hence, Hui Lian was also known as Huang Yun 黄云. Hui Lian became the Progenitor of the Huang Surname Clan. The descendants of Huang Yun (Hui Lian) ruled the Huang State of Shanxi until the early "Spring and Autumn Period" 春秋时代 (722 BC-481 BC) when it was conquered by the State of Jin 晋国.

Development and Emigration

In 891 BC, King Xiao of Zhou (Zhou Xiao Wang) 周孝王 conferred on a direct descendant of Hui Lian, Huang Xi 黄熙 (also known as Huang Shi 黄石), the nobility title of "Hou" 侯 (Marquis) and a fiefdom in the region east of the Han river 汉水 (in present-day region of Yicheng 宜城, Hubei 湖北 province) called "Huang" 黄 (Not to be confused with the Huang State of Fenyang, Shanxi) with the four neighbouring states, Jiang 江, Huang 黄 (founded by 伯益 Bo Yi's descendants and which was known as Huang tribe/barbarians 黄夷 during the Xia dynasty), Dao 道, and Bo 柏 in the Huang river 潢水 valley as vassals. The Huang State of Yicheng, Hubei was known as the "Western Huang" (Xi Huang 西黄) in history.

In 845 BC, Marquis Wen 文侯 Huang Meng 黄孟 (aka Huang Zhang 黄璋) moved the capital of the State of Huang from Yicheng to Huangchuan 潢川 (present-day Huangchuan 潢川, Henan 河南省) and founded a new Huang State. Huang Xi's descendants ruled State of Huang until 648 BC when it was destroyed by the State of Chu 楚国. The Marquis of Huang, Marquis Mu 穆侯 (Huang Qisheng 黄企生), narrowly escaped and fled to the State of Qi 齐国 (in present-day Linzi, Shandong province 山东省). The people of Huang were forced to relocate to Chu, to the region of present-day Hubei province, known as the Jiangxia Prefecture 江夏郡 during the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) 汉朝. There are many places in this region today that were named after Huang e.g Huanggang 黄冈, Huangpi 黄陂, Huangmei 黄梅, Huangshi 黄石 etc. A large number of the people of Huang were also relocated to regions south of the Changjiang/Yangtze River 长江, to the lands of the aboriginal Man 蛮 tribes. Among them were descendants of the aristocratic Huang family, who later assimilated with the aboriginal tribes and became the Huangs of the ethnic minorities. For example, the famous Huang Dong Man tribe 黄洞蛮 during the Tang dynasty. Those assimilated Huangs in the Yue tribe also moved with the tribe into present-day Vietnam. In 356 BC, the Huang Clan also spread its branch into Korea.

After three centuries in decline, the Huang Clan resurged when Huang Xie 黄歇, a descendant of the aristocratic family of the vanquished Huang State was elevated as the Prime Minister of the State of Chu. Huang Xie was conferred the title "Lord of Chunshen" 春申君 (314 BC-238 BC). During the Han dynasty, Huang Ba 黄霸 (130 BC- 51 BC) also became prime minister. It was during the Han dynasty that the Huang clan reached the zenith of preestige and power.

From Jiangxia, the Huang Clan later spread to other parts of China and later on to other parts of the world. Hence Jiangxia is regarded as the Cradle of the Huang Clan and the name "Jiangxia" was adopted as the clan's "Hall name" 堂号. Today, the Huang surname Clan is known as the "Huang Clan of Jiangxia". The name "Jiangxia" has become a synonym of Huang Surname Clan.

During the Jin dynasty 晋朝 (AD 265-AD 420), northern China was invaded by the barbarian tribes, many northerners (especially the aristocratic clans) moved to south China with the Jin court. It was during this period that the Huang2 Clansmen migrated to Fujian 福建省.

According to Min Shu 闽书 (Book of Min) (Quoted from Chung Yoon-Ngan):
"During the second year (of the reign) of Yong Jia (308AD) the Central Plain was in chaos and the eight (aristocratic) Clans:- Lin 林, Huang 黄, Chen 陈, Zheng 郑, Zhan 詹, Qiu 邱, He 何, and Hu 胡, entered Min 闽 (present day Fujian province, China)."

From the Tang dynasty (AD 618-AD 907) onwards, Huang Clansmen migrated from Fujian to Guangdong 广东省 and to the other southern provinces. Huang Clan developed into a big Clan in south China and became the 3rd biggest surname clan in South China today. (Related Article: How The Han Chinese Became The World's Biggest Tribe)

Migration to Taiwan 台湾 began during the transition period from the Ming 明 dynasty (1368-1644) to Qing 清 dynasty (1644-1912), when many Huang2 Clansmen followed the Anti-Manchu Ming loyalist forces under Zheng Chenggong 郑成功, crossed the Taiwan straits to Taiwan island.

Huang migration overseas began as early as the 14th century during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to destinations in Southeast Asia. One notable early Huang emigrant was Huang Senping 黄森屏 (better known as Ong Sum Ping), who went to Brunei in 1375. Migration to Americas began only in the mid-19th century following the forced opening of China's ports by the West. Today, the population of overseas Chinese Huangs is estimated at more than 2 million.


Copyright Ng Poh Sing 2003-2009