沈氏圖騰釋義

• 【釋義】 沈在甲骨文中如同牛羊沉入水中之狀。篆書改為從水、「冘」聲，「冘」是人行走的樣子。

• 【起源】 西周初分封的姬姓諸侯國有沈國，在今河南平輿，為子爵，稱沈子國，始封之君為周文王之子季載，公元前506年被蔡國所滅，子孫以國為氏，就是沈氏。春秋時，楚莊王之子公子貞（羋姓）封於沈邑（治今安徽臨泉，後移治今河南沈丘），後以邑為氏，也稱沈氏。

• 得姓始祖： 季載（周文王之子）

• 始祖地： 河南沈丘、平輿、安徽臨泉

• 郡望堂號： 吳興、汝南；夢溪堂

• 當今排序／人口： 第49位／約550萬

• 宋版百家姓排序： 第14位

• 現存家譜： 396部

Interpretation of the Shen (沈) Clan Totem

Definition: In Oracle Bone Script, "沈" (Shen) depicts an ox or sheep being submerged in water (suggesting a ritual sacrifice). In Seal Script, the radical was changed to "Water" with the phonetic component "冘" (Yín), which represents the appearance of a person walking.

Origin: 1. During the early Western Zhou Dynasty, the State of Shen was a vassal state granted to the Ji (姬) family. Located in present-day Pingyu, Henan, it was a viscountcy known as the State of Shenzi. The first ruler was Jizai, the son of King Wen of Zhou. After being conquered by the State of Cai in 506 BC, the descendants adopted the state's name as their surname. 2. During the Spring and Autumn period, Prince Zhen (of the Mi 羋 surname), son of King Zhuang of Chu, was enfeoffed in the fief of Shen (located in modern-day Linquan, Anhui, later moved to Shenqiu, Henan). His descendants took the name of the fief as their surname, also becoming the Shen clan.

• Ancestral Founder: Jizai (Son of King Wen of Zhou)

• Ancestral Homelands: Shenqiu and Pingyu (Henan); Linquan (Anhui)

• Prefectural Seats and Hall Names: Wuxing, Runan; Mengxi Hall

• Current Rank / Population: 49th most common / Approx. 5.5 million

• Song Dynasty "Hundred Family Surnames" Rank: 14th

• Extant Genealogies: 396 volumes