The name of Yang family of Hungnung had been widely-known among the Chinese ever since the days of Han Dynasty. It became very famous, however, after it produced the highest officials successively through four successive generations under the Later-Han Dynasty. The profession of the members of Yang family was the study of Confucianism, and the house of Yang produced many famous men. However, these famous scholars of the family were presumably incapable of making their fortune. At the time of War of Yung Chia 永嘉 (311), the Chin Dynasty removed its court to the south side of the Yangtze River. The Yang Family, however, failed to escape with the court. Accordingly, the family was in adverse circumstances under the Tung Chin Dynasty. Meanwhile, under the Northern Dynasty, the descendants of Yang Chieh 楊結 one of the members of the Yang family, enjoyed prosperity for a time. However, the Yangs in the Northern Dynasty made an enemy of the Erh-chu family, and were almost annihilated by the latter. Thus the power of the Yang family declined. With the advent of Sui and T'ang period, the Yangs restored their power in the courts of the two dynasties and founded their position in the political circles. Thus a family become powerful again under the two dynasties. However, the writer of this article is of opinion that it is a question whether those Yangs including the Imperial Family of Sui were, without exception, the descendents of the Yang family of Hung-nung as they professed themselves to be.
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