Meaning: The surname 弘 originates from the Spring and Autumn Period. It is derived from the Jiang clan, descendants of the Gong族 of the State of Qi. A minister named Hong Yan was granted the fief of Hongyi (present-day Lingbao, Henan) for his merits, and his descendants adopted the place name as their surname, thus forming the Hong clan.
Hongren (弘忍)
A prominent Buddhist monk of the Tang Dynasty, the Fifth Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, whose disciples Huineng and Shenxiu founded the Southern and Northern schools of Chan.
Daman Hongren (弘忍)
The fifth patriarch of Chinese Chan Buddhism, significantly influencing the development of Chan Buddhism.
Hongxian (弘宪)
an official of the Western Han Dynasty, served as the Commandant of Yangzhou and the Duke of Danyang.
The surname 弘 traces back to ancient Chinese nobility and symbolizes vastness or breadth. It’s a rare yet historically significant name linked to the State of Qi.