The Account of the Bestowal of a Surname is a short historical chronicle written by Huang Zongxi, a great Confucian scholar of the late Ming and early Qing. Originally included in the Compilation of Miscellaneous Histories of the Ming Period, it is about one volume long and focuses on the rise and fall of the Zheng family of the late Ming on the political and military stage. From there, it recounts the institutional historical event known as the "bestowal of a surname." In the title, this refers to the history of the Ming emperor granting surnames and titles to Zheng Zhilong, Zheng Chenggong, and others. This bestowal of surnames was not only a symbol of political power, but was also closely tied to the rise of forces along the southeastern coast and the complex interplay of coastal defense and foreign relations. The work conveys much in little, clearly tracing key milestones in the early history of the Zheng family, from trade and taking up arms to receiving the Ming court's favor, participating in the Longwu regime, and fighting the Qing army. It also portrays the characters and historical backdrop, allowing readers both to follow the historical developments and to feel the dramatic turns of the figures' fates.
As a relatively independent work within Huang Zongxi's writings, The Account of the Bestowal of a Surname has historical value and reflects the author's deep understanding of social change and the structure of political power in the late Ming. Huang Zongxi was a thinker who inherited and developed Wang Yangming's school of thought. Though famous for his work in political philosophy and historiography, here he also demonstrates keen insight into the relationship between historical events and the people involved. This book offers a valuable perspective for studying Zheng Chenggong and Zheng Zhilong's historical roles, coastal society in the late Ming, and its interactions with the central government. It also offers readers interested in biographies and the origins and development of historical events a clearly structured, concise historical sketch.
