Introduction to Chinese Culture · Hundred Surnames

Author: Kong Lin Illustration
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: In ancient times, primitive tribes had surnames. At that time, society was centered around matriarchy, and descendants of the same maternal lineage did not intermarry. To distinguish different marriage systems, surnames came into existence. Ancient surnames were mostly composed of the character for "woman," such as: Shennong's surname was Jiang, the Yellow Emperor's surname was Ji, Yu Shun's surname was Yao, the emperors of the Xia Dynasty had the surname Si, and the leaders of the Eastern Yi tribe had the surname Ying. As the population continued to grow, surnames also multiplied. The origins of surnames can be roughly categorized into several types: some derive from the tribal name or title of ancestors; some come from the names of states or places; some are based on official positions or occupations; some are derived from plants, animals, or numbers. After undergoing long-term evolution over the ages, the vast surname group of the Chinese nation has taken shape.