Students Must Read The Hundred Surnames

Author: Zhou Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: "Surname" is a single word in modern Chinese, but before the Qin and Han dynasties, there was a clear distinction between surname () and clan name (). The surname originated from matriarchal society, where the same surname indicated blood relations within the same maternal lineage. Therefore, the oldest surnames in China are mostly those with the character "" (woman) on the side or containing the character, such as Jiang, Ji, Si, Yao, Ying, and Gu. Many surnames were derived from the names of villages or tribal affiliations. The clan name () emerged after the establishment of patriarchal society. The clan name was a title used by ancient nobles to indicate the clan system and to identify paternal blood relations, primarily derived from fiefdoms, titles, official positions, or posthumous honors based on achievements.