Jiang (representing river) shared similar origins with the
surnames Qin and Huang (representing yellow) in the Ying clan. The
Ying clan’s origin could be traced to a noble Bo Yi who, as earlier
mentioned, served the legendary emperor Shun. The state of Jiang
was founded in the early years of the Zhou Dynasty by yet another
faction of the clan. During the Spring and Autumn period, many
small states were conquered and annexed by the dominant state of
Chu and Jiang was one such state. The citizens of the former
sovereign state then took up the surname of Jiang in remembrance of
their destroyed homeland.