Author: Yoon-Ngan CHUNG
Date: 01-23-04 19:19
Chinese surname CHEN (陳)
Chen means: to arrange; to exhibit; to narrate; old.
The surname Chen is about 2,400 years old.
It is No.5 on the top 100 of more than 5,000 Chinese surnames in the world.
The surname Chen originated in an area referred to during the Qin Dynasty (秦朝 221BC to 207BC) as Ying Chuan prefecture (潁川郡). The present day location of Ying Chuan prefecture is in Xu Chang county (許昌縣 113.8 degree East and 34.0 degree North on the world map) of Henan province (河南省).
According to the book Shi Ji (史記) by Si-Ma Qian (司-馬遷145BC to 86BC) the two wives of Yao Di (堯帝), chief of federated tribes in ancient China, were from the area near the river of Gui Rui (媯汭 present day Yong Ji county 永濟縣 in Shanxi province 山西省). Yao Di was the 5th generation descendant of Huang Di (黃帝). In 2255BC Yao Di abdicated in favour of Shun Di (舜帝) as the new chief. Shun Di used the word Gui (媯) for Gui Rui as his surname. In 2205BC Shun Di abdicated and Si Wen Ming (姒文命) was elected as the new ruler who was known as Yu Di (禹帝). Yu Di gave the authority to Gui Shang (媯商), who was the son of Shun Di, to rule a few settlements in a place called Yu (虞 present day Yu Cheng county 禹城縣 in Henan province 河南省).
Many generations after Gui Shang, in 1122BC Zhou King Wu (周武王), destroyed the Shang Dynasty (商朝 1783BC to 1122BC) and established the Zhou Dynasty (周朝 1134BC to 256BC). Zhou King Wu inherited a vast country, but the primitive communication technology at that time made it impossible to govern such a big country efficiently. He was desperately in need of capable personnel to administer his empire, so he delegated authority to his relatives, officials, generals and aristocrats to rule on his behalf.
Gui E Fu (媯閼父) had assisted Zhou King Wu in destroying the preceding Shang Dynasty. Gui E Fu was the 33rd generation descendant of Gui Shang. Zhou King Wu rewarded Gui E Fu by employing him as a Tao Zheng (陶正) or official in charge of weapons.
Gui Man (媯滿), the eldest son of Gui E Fu, married Zhou King Wu's eldest daughter, Da Ji (大姬). Hu Gong (胡公) was the name given by Zhou King Wu to his son-in-law and Gui Man came to be known as Hu Gong Man (胡公滿). Zhou King Wu not only bestowed upon Hu Gong Man the hereditary title of Hou (侯) or Marquis but also gave him the authority to rule a district called Chen (陳 present day Huai Yang county 淮陽縣 in Henan province). Hu Gong Man renamed the district of Chen the State of Chen (陳國) and established his capital in Wan Qiu (宛丘 present day Huai Yang county in Henan province). Hu Gong Man was the founder of the State of Chen.
After Hu Gong Man, nothing much was written about the rulers of the State of Chen until the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋時代 722BC to 481BC). In 717BC Gui Bao (媯鮑) was installed as the twelfth ruler of the State of Chen. When Gui Bao died in 707BC, his younger brother Gui Tu (媯突), murdered the inducted crown prince, Gui Mian (媯免) and Gui Tu proclaimed himself the ruler of Chen. However, the people of Chen supported Gui Yue (媯躍), another son of Gui Bao. Eventually the officials of Chen had Gui Tu killed. Gui Yue was installed as the ruler of Chen, but he died five months later. Gui Lin (媯林), the younger brother of Gui Yue became the fifteenth ruler of Chen.
In 568BC Gui Ruo (媯弱) was installed as the twenty-second ruler of Chen. Gui Zhao (媯招), the yonger brother of Gui Ruo, did not like the crown prince Gui Shi (媯師), the eldest son of Gui Ruo. So Gui Zhao had Gui Shi murdered. Gui Ruo ordered his guards to arrest Gui Zhao, but Gui Zhao sent in troops to besiege the palace. Gui Ruo the ruler committed suicide. Gui Zhao installed Gui Liu (媯柳), another son of Gui Ruo as the ruler.
On hearing that there was a power struggle in the State of Chen, Xiong Qian (熊虔), the 26th ruler of the State of Chu (楚國 present day Jiang Ling county 江陵縣 in Hubei province 湖北省) led an army to invade Chen. Gui Liu the new ruler of Chen, fled to the State of Zheng (鄭國 present day Ying Yang county 滎陽縣 in Henan province). The State of Chen was under the control of Chu as there was no ruler in Chen because the ruler had fled the State .
Xiong Qian died in 529BC. In order to please the world, Xiong Ju (熊居) the new ruler of Chu revived the State of Chen and appointed Gui Wu (媯吳), who was the grandson of Gui Ruo, as the twenty-third ruler of Chen. However, in 478BC Xiong Zhang (熊章), the grandson of Xiong Ju killed Gui Yue (媯越), the twenty-fifth ruler of Chen and absorbed Chen as a part of Chu. That was the end of the State of Chen.
All the mwmbers of the royal house of Chen changed their surname from Gui (媯) to Chen (陳) in remembrance of their beloved State. Nowadays, there are very few people with this ancient surname of Gui.
See the chronology of the State of Chen (陳國).
The chronology of the State Of Chen 陳國年表
Gui (媯) was the surname of all the rulers of the State of Chen. After the
State of Chen was absorbed by the State of Chu (楚國), all the members
of the royal house of Chen changed their surname to CHEN (陳)。
This is the chronology of the State of Chen (陳 國).
Name====================Title=========Period
(1) Hu Gong Man (胡公滿)==Chen Hou (陳侯)==1122BC
(2) Xi (犀)============== Shen Gong (申公)== not recorded
(3) Gao Yang (皋羊)====== Xiang Gong (相公)==not recorded
(4) Tu (突)==============Xiao Gong (孝公)==not recorded
(5) Yu Rong (圉戎)=======Shen Gong (慎公)==not recorded
(6) Ning (寧)============You Gong (幽公)===855NC to 833BC
(7) Xiao (孝)============Li Gong (釐公)====832BC to 797BC
(8) Ling (靈)============Wu Gong (武公)===796BC to 782BC
(9) Shuo (說)===========Yi Gong (夷公)====781BC to 778BC
(10) Xie (燮)=========== Ping Gong (平公)===777BC to 755BC
(11) Yu (圉)============Wen Gong (文公)===754BC to 718BC
(12) Bao (鮑)===========Huan Gong (桓公)==717BC to 707BC
(13) Tuo (佗)===========Li Gong ( 厲公)====706BC to 700BC
(14) Yue (躍)===========Li Gong (利公)====699BC to 699BC
(15) Lin (林)===========Zhuang Gong (莊公)=698BC to693BC
(16)Chu Jiu (杵臼)======Xuan Gong (宣公)===692BC to 648BC
(17) Kuan (款)=========Mu Gong (穆公)=====647BC to 632BC
(18) Shuo (朔)=========Gong Gong (共公)===631BC to 614BC
(19) Ping Guo (平國)====Ling Gong (靈公)====613BC to 599BC
(20) Wu (午)==========Cheng Gong (成公)===598BC to 569BC
(21) Ruo (弱)========= Ai Gong (哀公)======568BC to 534BC
(22) Wu (吳)==========Hui Gong (惠公)=====533BC to 506BC
(23) Liu (柳)==========Huai Gong (懷公)====505BC to 502BC
(24) Yue (越)========= Min Gong (湣公)====501BC to 478BC
The couplet of surname Chen is,
潁川世澤
鄉賢家聲
and
石馬源遠
占元業宏
and
汝南世德
御史家聲
Famous people
(1) 陳嘉庚 (Chen Jia Geng or Tan Kah Kee 1874AD to 1961AD)
Chen Jia Geng was from Ji Mei village (集美村) in Tong An county (同安縣) of Fujian province. When he was young he ventured to Singapore to do business. He made a fortune in rubber plantations. He built an university in Shamen (廈門).
On 7th July 1937 the Japanese attacked Lu Gou Qiao (蘆溝橋) near Beijing (北京). The aggression by the Japanese marked the beginning of the eight-year war of resistance against the Japanese. The Overseas Chinese throughout the world supported the Chinese Government to resist the Japanese. There were demonstrations everywhere in Malaya and Singapore. Japan began the full scale invasion of China.
In 1938 the Overseas Chinese in Malaya (including Singapore) formed an organization called South Seas area of the United China Relief Fund (UCRF).
Tan Kah Kee was elected the chairman of UCRF. This organization had remitted millions of dollars to Chungking (重慶 Zhongqing) Government to resist the Japanese.
In the early of 1940 the UCRF wanted to send a delegation to China to see the
war situation in China. The leader of this delegation was going to be Tan Kah Kee.
However, Tan Kah Kee said that he was not sure that he wanted to go. He gave
three reasons why he did not want to go. The first reason, he said was that he could not speak Mandarin. The second reason was that he was afraid of cold and the third reason he had spinal cord pain. Kao Ling Pai (高凌百 Gao Ling Bai), the
Chinese Consul-General representing the Chungking regime, said that he would represent Tan Kah Kee and lead the delegation to China. Knowing that Kao Ling
Pai was a pro-Kuomintang man Tan Kah Kee did not want Lao Ling Pai to lead the delegation. So Tan Kah Kee told the UCRF that he would lead the delegation.
On 26th March 1940, more than 50 members of the delegation arrived in Chungking. The leader of the delegation was Tan Kah Kee and the deputy leader was Zhuang Xi Yan (莊西言). Kao Ling Pai rushed to Chungking and told Chiang Kai Shek thatTan Kah Kee was a communist and Tan wanted to go to Yanan to see Mao Tze Tung (毛澤東 Mao Ze Dong) and Chu Te (朱德 Zhu De). Chaing Kai Shek (蔣介石) asked for a report on Tan Kah Kee. There was nothing in the report stating that Tan Kah Kee was a commuunist. The report also stated that Tan Kah Kee was not a member of the Kuomintang.
In the morning of 28th March 1940 Chiang Kai Shek met Tan Kah Kee and all the
members of the delegation. After the meeting, the next day Tan Kah Kee and his delegation began to tour Free China - territory not occupied by the Japanese. On 9th July 1940 Tan Kah Kee and his men visited Yanan and met Mao Ze Dong, Zhu De and Zhou En Lai (周恩來). The delegation stayed in Yanan for nine days. Tan Kah Kee gave an amulance to Mao Ze Dong. The first motor car in Yanan and Mao Ze Dong occasionally used the ambulance to receive American visitors and gave them a lift from the Yanan airport to his headoffice in one of the caves. The delegation returned to Chungking on 18th July 1940 and went back to Malaya on 30th July 1940.
On December 8th 1941, Japanese troops landed on Malaya and Singapore was bombed on the same day.
On 26th December 1941, the British Chief Police Officer of Singapore went to
Yi He Xuan recreation club (怡和軒俱樂部) to see Tan Kah Kee, the president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The Police Officer told Tan Kah Kee that the Governor of Singapore, Sir Shenton Thomas, wanted him to convene a meeting of all the Chinese Organizations in Singapore to form a war committe to mobilize the ablebodied Chinese in Singapore to help the British to defend Singapore. Tan Kah Kee turned down his request. The British police officer even begged Tan Kah Kee. Obstinately, Tan Kah Kee refused the Governor's request and the Police Officer went off..
On December 27th, the Chinese Relation Officer, Mr Jordan, came and requested Tan Kah Kee to organize the Chinese to help the British to defend Singapore. Tan Kah Kee declined his request. Mr Jordan told Tan Kah Kee that the Singapore Governor was not happy with him. Tan Kah Kee told Mr Jordan that he was not happy with the Governor too. Tan Kah Kee said that on 13 December when the British evacuated Penang, the British secretly used trains to transport only the British nationals of British race to be evacuated to Singapore. No Asiatics were permitted to embark on the trains, not even some Eurasian wives of British nationals. Sir Shenton Thomas personally went to the railway station to welcome these British nationals of British origin, to Singapore. Tan Kah Kee told Mr Jordan to convey the message to the Governor that if the British did not care about the Asians why should the British ask the Chinese for assistance. More than half of Tan Kah Kee's rubber estates were in the state of Perak which was overrun by the Japanese.
On December 28th, Tan Kah Kee requested all the leaders of all the Chinese Organizations in Singapore to go to the Governor's Residence the next day to meet the Governor.
On December 29th, the Governor, Sir Shenton Thomas, met the few hundred Chinese leaders and he apologized for what the Penang Authority had done on the evacuation of only British nationals. The Governor promised that this kind of unhappy event would not be repeated. After listening to what the Governor had
said Tan Kah Kee and all the leaders of the Chinese organizations agreed to help
the British to defend Singapore. Tan Kah Kee asked Sir Thomas to release all the political prisoners in the country held by the Government. The Governor obliged to do so. Later, Lao Hei (老黑 alias Lin Jiang Shi 林江石) and Huang Ye Lu (黃耶魯),
the two MCP members released from the prison, were summoned to Singapore to have an audience with Sir Thomas.
December 30th, a meeting of all the leaders of the Chinese organizations in
Singapore was held at the hall of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce building. Representatives of the Hakka Associations, Hokkien Associations, Teochew Associations, Hainanese Associations, Cantonese Associtions and
many other organizations were present. The Chinese Ambassador to Malaya,
Gao Ling Bai was also at the meeting which was chaired by Tan Kah Kee. An Overseas Chinese Anti-Japanese Committee was formed to guide the establishment of one regiment of Home Guards and one regiment of Providing Services. In the meeting the ten representatives of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) asked for the meeting to form an Armed Volunteers Force (義勇軍). Majority of the delegates voted in favour of an Armed Volunteers Force. Lin Jiang Shi a MCP representative, was voted to lead the formation of the Armed Volunteers Force.
December 31st, members of the Overseas Anti-Japanese Chinese Committee convened the first meeting at the building of the Jin Jiang Association (晉江會館)
at Bukit Basui Road (武吉巴梭路). Tan Kah Kee was elected the Chaiman, Lim Bo Seng (林謀盛Lin Mou Sheng), who was the leader of the Kuomintang (國民黨 KMT), was elected the leader of the Providing Services Regiment, Zheng Gu Yi (鄭古悅) the leader of the Home Guards and Lin Jiang Shi the leader of the Armed Volunteers Force. It was great for the Chinese to see the KMT and MCP joining a united front to fight against the bowlegged East-Ocean myopic dwarf devils.
On January 1st 1942, an Armed Volunteers Force was officially formed and it was called Dalforce. More than a thousand volunteers signed up. Lin Jiang Shi went to see Tan Kah Kee and asked for four hundred dollars. Tan Kah Kee asked him why he needed the money. Lin Jiang Shi told Tan Kah Kee that the British had issued them one thousand shotguns and they would be sent to the frontline in Geylang Road and the British wanted them to pay forty cents for each of the shotguns. Tan Kah Kee was very angry and he tried to stop Lin Jiang Shi and his forces to go to the front to be killed. Tan Kah Kee told him that they could not use shotguns to fight against the Japanese modern weapons and machine guns. Lin told Tan that at least they had guns to fight the Japanese. Tan Kah Kee had no choice but to give Lin the four hundred dollars.
There were bombings by the Japanese planes every day. It was hell in Singapore. There were still no signs of reinforcements of British warplanes coming to their rescue.
Before the fall of Singapore, Tan Kah Kee left Singapore for India with his family. No one could blame him because he could be the first Chinese to be executed by the Japanese.
After the Second World War he returned to China and became the Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Association in China.
(2) 陳勝 (Chen Shen ?? to 208BC)
Ying Zheng (嬴政) founded the Qin Dynasty (秦朝 221BC to 207BC) and proclaimed that he was the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (始皇帝). Ying Zheng died in 210BC and his second son, Ying Hu Hai (嬴胡海) succeeded him as the second Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (二皇帝). The vast majority of the people suffered greatly under the rigid and severe rule of the Qin Government. Riots erupted throughout the empire, soldiers mutinied and the people were in open revolt.
The first organized armed band uprising against the Qin Government was led by Chen Sheng (陳勝) and Wu Guang (吳廣). Chen Sheng was from Yang Cheng (陽城 present day in the southeast of Deng Feng county 登封縣 in Henan province 河南省). Wu Guang was from Yang Xia (陽夏 in present day Tai Kang county 太康縣 in Henan province). Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were conscripted into the Qin armed forces and both became lower ranking officers. One day in the seventh month of the second year reign of the Second Emperor of Qin (209BC), Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were ordered to lead two battalions of about nine hundred conscripts from the south to take up garrison at a frontier post at Yu Yang (漁陽 in the present day west of Mi Yun county 密雲縣 of Beijing city 北京市 in Hebei province 河北省). When they arrived at Da Ze Village (大澤鄉) Qi county (蘄縣 in the southwest of present day Su county 宿縣 in Anhui province 安徽省), it rained cats and dogs for several days. They could not continue their journey because the roads were impassable due to flooding. For sure, they could not reach their destination on time. According to the strengent rules of the Qin Government those who were late to arrive at their destination were punishable with death "失期當斬".Since they could be executed when they arrived at their destination Chen Sheng and Wu Guang decided not go to the north but stage a revolt against the Qin Government. All the conscripts were in favour of joining the uprising. Immediately, they attacked and occupied the administration center of Qi county and the surrounding villages. In a short period about ten thousand poor peasants joined the revolt. They proclaimed the formation of a Kingdom called Zhang Chu (張楚) and elected Chen Sheng as their King.
(3) 陳化成 (Chen Hua Cheng 1776AD to 1842AD)
Chen Hua Cheng was from Tong An county (同安縣) of Fujian province (福建省). He was the military governor of the island of Jin Men (金門島) and the commander of the navy in the province of Fujian. On 10, June 1842 the British warships attacked the seaport of Wu Song (吳淞口) in Jiangsu province (江蘇省), Chen Hua Cheng went to Wu Song to help general Zhou Shi Rong (周世榮) who was defending the seaport. For thirteen days they battled bravely against the British naval forces. They inflicted heavy damage to the British. Eventually, the British were repulsed. Ater this defeat the British dared not attack Wu Song again. Unfortunately, Chen Hua Cheng was killed in the battle.
CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元).
All rights reserved 23012004
Yoon-Ngan CHUNG
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