[Original Meaning]

The original meaning of Chen is "to display" or "to lay out." The character is composed of two parts: "Fu" (阜), representing a dirt mountain or hill, and "Dong" (東), which symbolizes the sun rising amidst the trees.

[Origin]

The lineage traces back to the descendants of the legendary Emperor Shun at the end of the Shang Dynasty:

• The Master Potter: Efu, the 33rd-generation descendant of Emperor Shun, pledged his allegiance to the State of Zhou and served as the Taozheng (an official in charge of pottery). Because of his exquisite craftsmanship, he was highly favored by the Zhou leaders, Ji Chang (King Wen) and Ji Fa (King Wu).

• The Founding of the State: After King Wu overthrew the Shang Dynasty and established the Zhou Dynasty, he sought to honor the descendants of ancient sages. He enfeoffed Efu’s son, Gui Man, in the region of Chen (present-day Huaiyang, Henan).

• Royal Marriage: King Wu established the State of Chen, tasked Gui Man with maintaining the ancestral rites of Emperor Shun, and gave his eldest daughter, Taiji, to him in marriage.

• Duke Hu of Chen: Upon his death, Gui Man was given the posthumous title Duke Hu, and is thus also known as Hu Gong Man.

• Adopting the Surname: The State of Chen lasted for 588 years before being conquered by the State of Chu in 479 BC. The descendants of the Chen royalty subsequently adopted the name of their former state as their surname.