Sunheung An clan

The Sunheung An clan (순흥 안씨, Korean pronunciation: [sunhɯ̽ŋ ans͈i]) is a clan connected with the town of Sunheung, South Korea, and was well-known during Goryeo Dynasty and early Chosun Dynasty for its 'blue-blood' status. An is also spelled as Ahn in its romanized version, but there is no difference in the two romanized versions apart from the spellings.

Sunheung An clan
순흥안씨
The crest of the Sunheung An clan
Home provinceSunheung
TitlesVarious
FounderAn Jami

73.5% of people with the Korean surname 'Ahn' belong to the Sunheung An clan. The 2000 South Korean census counted 468,827 members of the "Sunheung" Ahn clan. It is a native clan connected with the town of Sunheung, Korea. Sunheung Clan was the most noble and powerful clan among clans with surname Ahn, and was one of the Six Greatest Clans of all Korean clans during Koryeo Dynasty and early Chosun Dynasty.

The crest of the Sunheung An clan

Sunheung Clan in Koryeo Dynasty

They have enjoyed "blue-blood" status as nobility (Yang-Ban) since their earliest history in the Goryeo Dynasty and throughout the Chosun Dynasty (July 1392 - August 1910). The founder of the Sunheung Ahn was a famous military commander of Koryeo named Ahn Ja-mi. Ahn Ja-mi commanded Hongwiwi, the troop that escorted the Royal family, greeted foreign envoys, participated national ceremonies, fought in wars, and guarded the frontier(border are) in Goryeo Dynasty. Ahn Jami was honoured with the title of the supreme commander of Samhowi(one of 3 Central Command) by King Sinjong of Koryeo. Founder Ahn Jami had three sons, Ahn Yeong-yu, Ahn Yeong-rin, Ahn Yeong-hwa. Sunheung-Ahn Clan is divided into 3 different branches based on which of the three sons they descend from. The First Branch descending from Ahn Yeong-yu is called Lord (Duke) Chumil Branch (1파 추밀공파(樞密公派)). The Second Branch descending from Afhn Yeong-rin is called Lord (Duke) ByeolJang Branch (2파 별장공파(別將公派)). The Third Branch descending from Ahn Yeong-hwa is called Lord (Duke) Kyoseo Branch (3파 교서공파(校書公派)). From these three branches, there are 14 more sub-branches from the First Branch, 4 more sub-branches from the Second Branch, and 4 more sub-branches from the Third Branch.

Sunheung-Ahn Clan became one of the most powerful and famous noble clans after Ahn Hyang, who is grandson of Ahn Yeong-yu (the founder of the Lord (Duke) Chumil Branch and the great-grandson of Ahn Jami, the founder of the Sunheung-Ahn Clan. An Hyang passed the Gwageo(State examination) in 1260(Wonjong 1). And he served as Docheomuijungchan(Vice-premier). An Hyang is considered the founder of Neo-Confucianism in Korea, introducing Song Confucianism to the Koryeo Empire. An Hyang is generally numbered among the clan's most illustrious members, and founded a branch of his own within Sunheung-Ahn Clan, called Lord (Duke) Moonsun Sub-Branch (문성공파(文成公派)). Subsequent to An Hyang and for the rest of Koryeo Dyasty, Sunheung-Ahn Clan had members passing the Gwageo(State Examination) for 11 generations, 20 members of the Clan were made into Dukes or Grand Dukes (봉군(封君)), and produced 17 Daejehaks(대제학), which were then the highest office academics could reach in the Royal Court, equivalent to today's Ministers of Education.

Sunheung Clan in Chosun Dynasty

After the fall of Koryeo Dynasty and the establishment of Chosun Dynasty in 1392, Sunheung-Ahn Clan still remained one of the most powerful and famous noble clans, and was known for being one of the Six Greatest Clans in the kingdom. During Chosun Dynasty, 641 members of Sunheung-Ahn Clan passed the Gwageo(State Examination).

However, the Sunheung-Ahn Clan lost its power in mid 15th Century due to its support of King Danjong, a young King who was overthrown and then later assassinated by his uncle in the midst of political turmoil. The Sunheung-Ahn Clan then led the movement to restore King Danjong back to the throne, which is one of the well-known tragedies in the history if Chosun Dynasty. Once the movement failed, Sunheung-Ahn clan lost its status of one of the most prestigious clans in the kingdom, and members of the clan left the ancestral home of Sunheung and scattered around the kingdom to run away the oppression of the government. The famous PiKkeut Village (End of the Blood Village, 피끝마을) resulted from the failure of this movement. The village gained its name from massacre committed by the Chosun Dynasty on the 700 inhabitants of Sunheung, the ancestral home of Sunheung-Ahn Clan, after the failure of the movement. The blood of the massacred people flowed in the stream and then ended in the PiKkeut Village, and thus the village got its name. The tragedy of Sunheung and PiKkeut Village was romanticised as the tragic fate of the Sunheung-Ahn Clan that stayed loyal to the young king, such as in DanJongEhSa (단종애사, 端宗哀史), a popular early 20th century Korean novel that described the life of King Danjong. Due to Sunheung-Ahn clan's famous history of staying loyal to King Danjong, surname Ahn became synonymous to stubborn and loyal. There are three Korean surnames often associated with being stubborn-Ahn, Kang, and Choi-and among the three surnames Ahn is most famous due to this tragic history.

As the consequence of the failure of Danjong Restoration Movement, Sunheung-Ahn Clan were charged with treason. The ancestral home of Sunheung was called the Land of Treason, and the clan could not regain its former power and glory for the rest of the Chosun Dynasty. Due to this the Clan did not produce many famous figures for the rest of Chosun Dynasty. However, the Clan produced many well-known members after the fall of Chosun Dynasty in late 19th century.

Famous Members of Sunheung Clan

Most influential and respected members of the Sunheung Clan are An Hyang, who is considered the founder of Neo-Confucianism in Korea during Koryeo Empire, and An Chang Ho (Title: Dosan), a political leader during Colonial Japan and the founding of the democratic government of Korea, whose life ended shortly after the arrest and release by the Colonial Japanese Government.

Before 26th Generation
  • An Hyang, an academic and official in the Royal Court in late Koryeo Dynasty. He introduced Neo-Confucianism to Korea. Also known as Lord(Duke) Moonsun, and founded the Moonsun branch within the First Branch of Sunheung-Ahn Clan.
  • An Yui, a military officer in mid-Chosun Dynasty. He is well-known for winning against the Japanese in multiple battles under the command of Yi Sun-sin, the most famous military commander in Chosun Dynasty.

26th Generation
  • Ahn Cheol-soo, a South Korean politician, physician, and software entrepreneur. A two-time former presidential election candidate in 2012 and 2017. 26th generation of Lord(Duke) GamChal Sub-Branch of the First Branch of Sunheung-Ahn Clan.
  • An Chang Ho, a political leader during Colonial Japan, one of the founding members of the democratic government of Korea, and a leader in the Korean Independence Movement under the Japanese Occupation. Also one of the leaders of the Korean-American immigrant community in the United States.

28th Generation
  • An Jae-hong, a Korean independence activist, politician and journalist.

29th Generation
  • Ahn Hee-jung, a South Korean politician. He served as the 36th and 37th Governor of South Chungcheong Province.
  • Ahn Tae-hoon, the father of famous Korean independence activist An Jung-geun. He is well-known for helping Kim Koo, one of the leading figures of the Korean Independence Movement.

30th Generation
  • An Jung-geun, a Korean-independence activist and receiver of the Order of Merit medal for National Foundation in 1962 by the South Korean government, the most prestigious civil decoration in the Republic of Korea, for his efforts for Korean independence.
  • An Gong-gun, younger brother of An Jung-geun, a Korean-independence activist who worked along with Kim Koo.
  • An Myeong-gun, cousin of An Jung-geun, a Korean-independence activist who was imprisoned with Kim Koo by the Japanese Colonial government.

31st Generation
  • An Choon-seng, a Korean-independence activist, military commander, and South Korean politician. He later became the first Principal of Korean Military Academy. Nephew of An Jung-geun.

Generation Ambiguous
  • Ahn Eak-tai, a classical composer and conductor, famous for composing the national anthem of South Korea, but also criticized for composing for the Japanese Colonial Government.
  • Ahn Se-chan, founder of a Korean nationalist religion.
  • Ahn Dae-ryun, a South Korean politician and businessman.
  • Ahn Dae-hee, a South Korean politician and Lord Chancellor of the Supreme Court of Justice.
  • An Yu-jin, member of the K-pop group IZ*ONE.
  • Ahn Jaemo, a South Korean actor, singer, motor sportsman, and a businessman.
  • Ahn Jae-wook, a famous South Korean singer and actor.
  • Ahn Jaehyo, known as Jaehyo, a South Korean singer and vocalist in the South Korean boy band Block B.
  • Ahn Sung-ki, one of South Korea's most respected actors, having appeared in more than 130 films during his career of over 60 years.
  • Ahn Nae-sang, a South Korean actor.
  • Victor An, a South Korean-born short-track speed-skater later naturalised into Russian citizenship, famous for being one of the most accomplished short-track speed-skaters of all time.
  • Ahn So-hee, better known by the mononym Sohee, a South Korean actress and singer, and a former member of the South Korean girl group Wonder Girls.
  • Hwasa, Ahn Hye-jin, a South Korean singer and rapper, member of the South Korean girl group Mamamoo.
  • Tony An, a South Korean singer, a member of boy band H.O.T..

Villages of Sunheung Clan


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