Henan county an ancestral haven for Chinese worldwide

Folk performances are held to celebrate the Gushi root-seeking cultural festival. [Photo by Xiang Mingchao/China Daily]

Genealogy is a common interest among many Chinese people, whether they are living at home or abroad, as ancestral worship is at the core of Chinese cultural values.

Henan province, which is known as the Central Plain, is the cradle of Chinese civilization and the origin of many Chinese family clans.

According to Shi Jichun, deputy chairman of the Henan committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, 78 of the top 100 family names in China have their origins in Henan.

Gushi, a county in Henan, holds a unique place among residents of Fujian and Taiwan, as well as many overseas Chinese, because of large migration movements from Gushi beginning during the Jin Dynasty (265-420).

In Taiwan, 63 of the top 100 family clans have origins in Gushi, according to their family history books.

In Gushi, there is an annual root-seeking cultural festival, offering a platform for people sharing Gushi-native heritage to get together.

This year's festival opened on September 26.

A milestone event during the festival is the opening of the Wang's Memorial Museum to commemorate Wang Shenzhi, one of the most famous historical figures from Gushi.

Wang was appointed the governor of Fujian in the turbulent years of the late Tang Dynasty (618-907).

While the rest of the country was in the midst of constant war and conflict, people in Fujian enjoyed a peaceful life because of his wise and beneficial administration.

As the ruler of Fujian, Wang was said to be frugal, often wearing hemp shoes and residing in a small house. His criminal penalties were relaxed and tax rates were low. These policies were said to lead both the government and its people to wealth, and keep his realm relatively calm.