In today's China, Kongjia is only the 98th most popular surname, but in history, Kongjia enjoyed extremely special social and economic treatment and was praised as "the first surname in the world" and "the first surname of Confucianism" by later generations.
The family of Confucius in Shandong has always been prosperous and enjoyed special treatment, which is mainly attributed to their ancestor Confucius. Of course, members of Confucian families in past dynasties also knew the times. Shandong Confucius family is a descendant family left by Confucius, the most holy teacher of Confucianism. Because Confucius initiated Confucianism, enlightened the world and influenced the ages, the Confucius family, as a saint, became a symbol of culture with the prosperity of Confucianism in China for thousands of years, and has been in a prosperous state after the changes of dynasties.
Since the political thought founded by Confucius later became the political thought of the ruling class of China feudal dynasty ruling the people, since the Han Dynasty, emperors of all dynasties have respected Confucius as a saint, and every generation of heads of the Confucius family has also been knighted. Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, the civil affairs and the appointment and removal of all officials in Qufu County have also been owned by the Kongs. Even in the Republic of China, the position of the head of Confucius' family was equivalent to that of the central minister, and he could get 800 silver dollars a month.
Of course, another reason is that the descendants of the Confucius family have always been aware of the times and know how to advance and retreat, which is also the reason why the Confucius family can last forever. No matter what kind of power won the world in history, the Confucius family in Shandong was the first to submit a surrender letter to show its obedience. For example, during the period when Jin Meng and the Song Dynasty stood in the balance, three feast dukes appeared in the world. For example, when Emperor Shunzhi ascended the throne in Beijing after the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, the contemporary duke feast Kong Yan Zhi (conferred by Chongzhen) immediately sent a message to He Wen, praising Emperor Shunzhi as a generation of holy emperors and literature and martial arts in the Qing Dynasty, which was very flattering. Kong was also the first person to shave his hair after the Qing dynasty issued a haircut order. Take this as an example.
In the history of China, Confucianism existed in almost all dynasties (since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty) as a political thought ruled by feudal dynasties. In addition, the descendants of the Confucius family in Shandong realized the current situation and knew how to advance and retreat. Therefore, the emperors of past dynasties endowed Confucius and the Confucius family in Shandong with extremely high social and economic status, thus creating a magnificent feat of the Confucius family.