The Zheng clan of Xingyang () was a prominent Chinese clan, chiefly based around Xingyang (modern day

Kaifeng Kaifeng () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, China. It is one of the Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and is best known for having been the Chinese capital during the Nort ...

Henan Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...

). Tracing their origins to the rulers of the

State of Zheng Zheng (; ; Old Chinese: *') was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–221 BCE) located in the centre of ancient China in modern-day Henan Province on the North China Plain about east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It was th ...

, they became highly prominent in government during the

Northern and Southern Dynasties The Northern and Southern dynasties () was a period of political division in the history of China that lasted from 420 to 589, following the tumultuous era of the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Eastern Jin dynasty. It is sometimes considered as ...

, where they became one of the "Four Clans" in

Northern Wei Wei (), known in historiography as the Northern Wei (), Tuoba Wei (), Yuan Wei () and Later Wei (), was founded by the Tuoba (Tabgach) clan of the Xianbei. The first of the Northern and Southern dynasties#Northern dynasties, Northern dynasties ...

, and also during the

Tang Dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...

History

The Zheng clan of Xingyang traces its descent to the fall of the State of Zheng to the

State of Han Han (, Old Chinese: ''*'') was an ancient Chinese state during the Warring States period of ancient China. It is conventionally romanized by scholars as Hann to distinguish it from the later Han dynasty (). It was located in central China ...

in 375 BC.

Northern and Southern dynasties

The Zheng clan first became prominent in the

Northern and Southern dynasties The Northern and Southern dynasties () was a period of political division in the history of China that lasted from 420 to 589, following the tumultuous era of the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Eastern Jin dynasty. It is sometimes considered as ...

period as officials in

, beginning with Zheng Xi (426–492). Throughout the period, they engaged in intermarriage with other major clans, as well as with the ruling Tuoba clan. Alongside the

Cui clan of Boling The Cui clan of Boling (博陵崔氏) was a notable Chinese clan of noble descent which was politically active from the Han dynasty to the end of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. They shared the same ancestry as the Cui clan of Qinghe. T ...

, the

Lu clan of Fanyang The Lu clan of Fanyang (范陽盧氏) was a Chinese political clan active from the late Eastern Han dynasty to the early Song dynasty. They descended from a noble clan in Qi, a ducal state under the Zhou dynasty. Their family name, Lu 盧, was der ...

and the

Wang clan of Taiyuan The Wang clan of Taiyuan () was a Chinese clan which achieved prominence between the Han and Tang dynasties, based in Taiyuan in modern-day Shanxi province. The earliest prominent members of this clan can be traced back to two brothers, Wang Rou an ...

, the Zhengs were one of the "Four Surnames" of Northern Wei.

Prominent Members

Zheng Congdang Zheng Congdang (鄭從讜) (died 887?''New Book of Tang''vol. 63.), courtesy name Zhengqiu (正求), was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, twice serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong. Background and early caree ...

(d. 887), Tang chancellor * Zheng Lang (d. 857), Tang chancellor * Zheng Yuqing (746–820), Tang chancellor *

Zheng Xunyu Zheng Xunyu (鄭珣瑜) (738 – December 11, 805), courtesy name Yuanbo (元伯), was a Chinese judge and politician during the Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Dezong and Emperor Shunzong. Background Zheng Xu ...

(738–805), Tang chancellor *

Zheng Tan Zheng Tan (鄭覃) (died 842''Old Book of Tang'', vol. 18, part 1.), formally the Duke of Yingyang (滎陽公), was a Chinese historian and politician during the Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong. He was vie ...

(d. 842), Tang chancellor *

Zheng Yanchang Zheng Yanchang (), courtesy name Guangyuan (), was an official of the History of China, Chinese Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor of Tang Dynasty, chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, Emperor Zhaozong in the 9th century. Ba ...

(d. 894), Tang chancellor *

Zheng Tian Zheng Tian (, 821?'' New Book of Tang'', vol. 185./825?'' Old Book of Tang'', vol. 178.–883?), courtesy name Taiwen (), formally Duke Wenzhao of Xingyang (), was a chancellor of late Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the r ...

(825–883), Tang chancellor and military commander who defeated

Huang Chao Huang Chao (835 – July 13, 884) was a Chinese smuggler, soldier, and rebel, and is most well known for being the leader of a major rebellion that severely weakened the Tang dynasty. Huang was a Salt in Chinese history, salt smuggler before ...

References

{{Reflist Chinese clans