The 容 surname

Rong (容) is one of the surnames of Taishan. According to the Taishan County Gazetteer of Local Lore (《台山县乡土志》), the Rong of Zhaimen (寨门) came from Zhuji Lane (珠玑巷) in Nanxiong (南雄). At Nanting Village (南厅村) in Naqin (那琴), Beidou Town (北陡镇), stands the Hall of Prefect Rong (容太守祠), commemorating Rong Weihan (容维翰) and his son Rong Wenting (容文烶), who came from the village in the Wanli period of the Ming.^[1][2]

Origin of the surname[edit]

There are several accounts of the origin of the Rong surname: one derives it from Zhongrong (仲容), a son of Shun (虞舜) and one of the "Eight Benevolent Ones" (八恺), whose descendants took their ancestor's name as their surname; one from Rongcheng (容成), historian-minister of the Yellow Emperor; one says it was taken from "Rong" (容), an office of rites and music in the Zhou; one derives it from the ancient state of Rong (容国), whose name was taken as the surname; and there are also accounts that it came from the Nanrong (南容) or Murong (慕容) clans changing their surname.^[3]

Coming to Taishan[edit]

The Taishan County Gazetteer of Local Lore lists the surnames that moved into Taishan from Zhuji Lane in Nanxiong, among them the Rong of Zhaimen (as quoted in the book Zhuji Lane Migrants of the Song and the Development of Agriculture in the Pearl River Delta, 《宋代珠玑巷迁民与珠江三角洲农业发展》). Their first migrant ancestor and when they came are not recorded in the sources seen.^[1]

How the Rong came to Taishan and where they live is yet to be added. Family members who know more are welcome to edit this article.

Ancestral halls and overseas Chinese magazines[edit]

• Hall of Prefect Rong: at Nanting Village, Naqin, Beidou Town; a brick-and-timber building, three bays wide and two halls deep, with red brick walls and a flush-gable roof; the granite lintel over the door is carved "Hall of Prefect Rong". The hall is very old and has fallen into disrepair.^[2]

People[edit]

• Rong Weihan, of Nanting Village, Beidou; a gongsheng of the 6th year of Wanli of the Ming (1578), who served in turn as assistant instructor of Nanxiong Prefecture, director of education of Lingao County (临高县) and instructor of Xunzhou Prefecture (浔州府).^[2]
• Rong Wenting, son of Rong Weihan; a juren (provincial graduate) of the 31st year of Wanli of the Ming (1603), who served in turn as director of education of Shixing County (始兴县) and county magistrate of Yongchun (永淳), Guangxi; his Rhapsody on Falling Yellow Leaves (《黄叶落赋》) has been handed down locally.^[2]