How to Use This Guide

This guide helps you understand and use the tanghao lookup features on our website.

What is Tanghao?

Tanghao (堂号) literally means "hall name" - it's your family's identifier connected to a specific place and lineage.

Tanghao Categories

Geographic Tanghao

Named after places: - 江夏堂 (Jiangxia Tang) - Jiangxia, Hubei - 岭南堂 (Lingnan Tang) - Guangdong - 邵武堂 (Shaowu Tang) - Fujian - 紫云堂 (Ziyun Tang) - Quanzhou, Fujian

Symbolic Tanghao

Named after virtues or symbols: - 安定堂 (Anding Tang) - Peace/Stability - 崇德堂 (Chongde Tang) - Honoring Virtue - 凤翔堂 (Fengxiang Tang) - Phoenix Flight

Finding Your Tanghao

Step 1: Interview Family

Ask elder family members about: - Family hall name - Ancestral village - Family genealogy books - Oral traditions

Step 2: Check Documents

Look for: - Ancestral tablets - Tomb inscriptions - Wedding documents - Old photographs - Family letters

Step 3: Research Origins

Know your: - Province of origin - County of origin - Migration history

Step 4: Use Tools

Our tanghao lookup helps you: - Identify possible tanghao - Find connections - Locate relatives

Common Tanghao by Region

Guangdong

- 岭南堂 (Lingnan) - 邵武堂 (Shaowu) - 南海堂 (Nanhai)

Fujian

- 紫云堂 (Ziyun) - 邵武堂 (Shaowu) - 莆阳堂 (Puyang)

Hubei

- 江夏堂 (Jiangxia) - 汝南堂 (Runan)

Hunan

- 零陵堂 (Lingling) - 长沙堂 (Changsha)

Sichuan

- 巴蜀堂 (Bashu) - 蜀山堂 (Shushan)

Connecting to Lineage

Once you find your tanghao: 1. Research the origin 2. Find related families 3. Connect with associations 4. Visit ancestral halls 5. Preserve traditions

Online Resources

Databases

Use our database to: - Search tanghao - Find families - Connect branches

Forums

Join discussions: - Share findings - Get help - Connect with relatives