Interpretation of the Shen (申) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

The original meaning of Shen (申) is thunder and lightning. In ancient texts, Shen was also defined as "God" (神). In Oracle Bone Script, the character Shen depicts the curling and lingering of clouds and mists accompanied by the flashing of lightning. It symbolizes the power of nature and the connection between heaven and earth.

【Origins】

1. From the State of Shen (Jiang Surname): At the beginning of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the descendants of Bo Yi (a descendant of the Yan Emperor) established the State of Shen with the rank of Earl, located between present-day Shaanxi and Shanxi. During the reign of King Xuan of Zhou, the state moved to present-day Nanyang, Henan. It was eventually annexed by the State of Chu in 688 BC. Its citizens adopted the state name as their surname, Shen.

2. The Eastern Shen State: Simultaneous with the Nanyang Shen State, there was another Shen State located in present-day Xinyang, Henan, known as East Shen. It was conquered by the State of Chu in 680 BC, and its descendants also adopted Shen as their surname.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestors

Bo Yi, Ri Jing

Ancestral Homelands

Nanyang and Xinyang, Henan Province

Prefectural Mansions

Wei County, Danyang, Langya

Notable Hall Name

Zhongxiao Hall (Hall of Loyalty and Filial Piety)

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 128th / Approx. 1.47 million people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 160th in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

29 volumes currently preserved

繁體中文版本 (Traditional Chinese)

申氏圖騰釋義

【釋義】

「申」的本義為雷電。古文定義「申」即為「神」。在甲骨文中，申字的字形像雲氣繚繞、閃電隱現之狀。它象徵著大自然的威力以及天地神靈的感應。

【起源】

1. 源於申國（姜姓）： 西周初年，炎帝裔孫伯夷的後裔在今陝西、山西間建立了姜姓伯爵申國。至周宣王時，該國遷至今河南南陽。公元前688年，申國被楚國所滅，其子孫以國名為氏，稱為申氏。

2. 東申國： 與南陽申國同時，在今河南信陽還有另一個申國，史稱「東申」。公元前680年被楚國所滅，子孫亦以國為氏，稱申氏。

歷史與人口概況

類別

詳情

得姓始祖

伯夷、日憬

始祖地

河南南陽、信陽

郡望

魏郡、丹陽、琅琊

堂號

忠孝堂

當今排序/人口

第128位 / 約147萬人

宋朝百家姓排序

第160位

現存家譜

29部