Wanyan

Wanyan(完颜) was a Heishui Mohe tribe living in the drainage region of the Amur River during the Khitan Liao Dynasty time. It was part of "Raw Jurchen" (Uncooked Jurchen, 生女真), which means that the tribe was not subordinated to the direct ruling of Khitan Emperors. Those Heishui Mohe tribes ruled by Khitan Emperors were called "Cooked Jurchen" (熟女真) to indicate that they are more civilized.

In 1115, Wanyan Aguda, the chieftain of the Wanyan Tribe, founded Jurchen Jin Dynasty. He destroyed Khitan Liao Dynasty before he died in 1123. Two years later, his brother Wanyan Wuqimai invaded Song Dynasty and conquered northern China. Jurchens were sinicized afterwards. The surname "Wanyan" is sinicized as "Wang" according to Jurchen's official history records. In 1234, Jurchen Jin Dynasty was destroyed by the alliance of Mongol and Han Chinese's Southern Song Dynasty. Both Mongol and Han Chinese claimed that people with the surname "Wanyan" will be treated as from the royal line of Jurchen Jin and be executed immediately. Therefore, for the sake of survival, people with the surname "Wanyan" either changed the name to a Han Chinese form or moved to remote area. In present day China, only the villagers in a small town of Jingchuan, Gansu Province keep the surname "Wanyan".

References

* [http://www.gansudaily.com.cn/20050908/499/2005908A00441007.htm Visiting the Wanyan Village in Jingchuan, Gansu Province] (in Chinese language)