Under Heaven There is Only One Zeng
The Zeng Clan 曾氏 is traced to the ancient Zeng State 鄫國 and to the figure Prince Wu of Zeng 太子巫, with all later Zengs are regarded as his single line of descendants. Prince Wu was a 54th descendent of Yu the Great 姒大禹, the mythical founder of the Xia Dynasty.
Because traditional genealogical accounts claim there were no cases of
non‑Zeng people adopting the surname, writers describe
曾 as one of the “purest” Han
Chinese surnames and summarize this with the saying
「天下一曾無二曾」— “Under heaven
there is only one Zeng, and no other (literally, no second Zeng).”
The document below traces the history of my family 曾氏 from to our forbearers in Chinese mythology to Prince Wu, his 2nd Great-grandson—the Confucian Sage Zengzi 曾子宗聖公, and his descendants who eventually migrated from Northern China to the Sheung Gok in Toisan County, Guangdong 廣東省台山縣上閣.
Zeng Family Generation Naming Poem:
(This translation is meant
provide the feeling of the poem in English.)
| Ancient 古派 |
純飾勵良修 鑽積秩箕裘 巍峨瞻岳永 發達榮華周 |
Let hearts be pure, in temper firmly trained Let diligent toil thy house's heritage sustain Look to the heights, unshaken, ever strong Where noble sons in endless line belong |
| Old 舊派 |
宏聞貞尚衍 興毓傳紀廣 熙憲慶繁祥 |
Let greatness sound through halls of ancient fame Let rising sons the storied line proclaim That righteous law with joyful peace abide |
| New 新派 |
令德維垂佑 欽紹念顯揚 |
And noble virtue in thy house reside Let faithful heirs thy honored name make bright |
| Poem Literal Word-by-word Translation and Notes: | |
| Ancient Sequence 古派 | |
| 純飾勵良修 |
1. 純 (chún) –
Pure, untainted 2. 飾 (shì) – Adorn, refine, cultivate (one’s conduct) 3. 勵 (lì) – Encourage, urge on, discipline 4. 良 (liáng) – Good, virtuous, fine 5. 修 (xiū) – Cultivate, perfect, improve |
| 鑽積秩箕裘 |
6. 鑽 (zuān) –
Bore into, delve, diligently study 7. 積 (jī) – Accumulate, amass 8. 秩 (zhì) – Order, rank, proper arrangement 9-10. 箕裘 (jī qiú) – “Mat and fur robe”; idiom for inheriting and continuing the family profession or legacy |
| 巍峨瞻岳永 |
11. 巍 (wēi) –
Lofty, towering 12. 峨 (é) – Steep, high (paired with 巍 for “majestic”) 13. 瞻 (zhān) – Look up to, gaze upon with respect 14. 岳 (yuè) – Great mountain 15. 永 (yǒng) – Everlasting, enduring |
| 發達榮華周 |
16. 發 (fā) –
Emerge, develop 17. 達 (dá) – Achieve, reach, prosper 18. 榮 (róng) – Glory, honor 19. 華 (huá) – Splendor, flourishing brilliance 20. 周 (zhōu) – All‑encompassing, throughout, everywhere |
| Old Sequence 舊派 | |
| 宏聞貞尚衍 |
21. 宏 (hóng) –
Vast, grand, magnificent 22. 聞 (wén) – Reputation, heard‑of fame 23. 貞 (zhēn) – Upright, steadfast, true 24. 尚 (shàng) – Esteem, value, uphold 25. 衍 (yǎn) – Extend, spread, proliferate |
| 興毓傳紀廣 |
26. 興 (xīng) –
Rise, flourish, prosper 27. 毓 (yù) – Nurture, bring forth (virtuous offspring) [Hong Chew Yook's Generation] 28. 傳 (chuán) – Pass down, transmit [Hong Hock How's Generation] 29. 紀 (jì) – Record, chronicle, rules/order 30. 廣 (guǎng) – Broad, widespread, extensive [Author's Generation] |
| 熙憲慶繁祥 |
31. 熙 (xī) –
Bright, prosperous, flourishing 32. 憲 (xiàn) – Law, constitution, moral norm 33. 慶 (qìng) – Celebration, blessing 34. 繁 (fán) – Numerous, abundant, thriving 35. 祥 (xiáng) – Auspicious sign, good omen |
| New Sequence 新派 | |
| 令德維垂佑 |
36. 令 (lìng) –
Excellent, fine, admirable 37. 德 (dé) – Virtue, moral character 38. 維 (wéi) – Maintain, uphold, preserve 39. 垂 (chuí) – To bestow down, to extend downward 40. 佑 (yòu) – Protect, bless, aid |
| 欽紹念顯揚 |
40. 欽 (qīn) –
Revere, respectfully admire 41. 紹 (shào) – Continue, carry on (a tradition) 42. 念 (niàn) – Remember, keep in mind 43. 顯 (xiǎn) – Illustrious, manifest, distinguished 44. 揚 (yáng) – Raise high, make known, glorify |
REVISION HISTORY:
February 5, 2026: Added family naming poem and translation, and paragraphs explaining the phrase「天下一曾無二曾」"Under Heaven there is only one Zeng, there is no other."
May 22, 2021: Original Publication
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