Jī is the Mandarin pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname written 嵇 in Chinese characters. It is romanized as Chi in Wade–Giles and Kai or Gai in Cantonese. Ji is listed 194th in the Song dynasty classic Hundred Family Surnames.[1] Relatively uncommon today, it is not among the top 300 surnames in China.[2]
 | |
| Pronunciation | Jī (Mandarin) Gai (Cantonese) |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Chinese |
| Origin | |
| Language(s) | Old Chinese |
| Word/name | Kuaiji, Mount Ji |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Chi, Kai, Gai |
Origin edit
According to the Yuanhe Xing Zuan, a Tang-era text on Chinese genealogy, the Ji surname originated from Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing) on the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay in Zhejiang. King Shao Kang of the Xia was said to have enfeoffed one of his sons in the place and his descendants adopted Kuaiji or Ji (written 稽) as their surname. Then, during the early Han dynasty, a branch of this clan was said to have migrated to Mount Ji (嵇山) in Qiao Commandery (谯郡, within modern Bozhou in Anhui). They then altered the character of their surname to match their new home.[3][4]
Later adoption edit
During the Xianbei Northern Wei dynasty, Emperor Xiaowen (r. AD 467–499) implemented a drastic policy of sinicization, ordering his own people to adopt Chinese surnames. The Tongji (统嵇) tribe of the Xianbei adopted Ji as their surname.[4]
Notable people edit
- Ji Kang (嵇康; 223–262), Cao Wei era scholar and philosopher, one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
- Ji Shao (嵇紹; 253–304), son of Ji Kang, died when protecting Emperor Hui of Jin during the War of the Eight Princes
- Ji Huang (嵇璜; 1711–1794), Qing dynasty politician and hydrologist
- Ji Wenfu (嵇文甫; 1895–1963), philosopher, President of Henan University, Vice Governor of Henan province
- Ji Ruyun (嵇汝运; 1918–2010), chemist, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences
References edit
- ^ "百家姓" [Hundred Family Surnames] (in Chinese). Guoxue. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ 中国最新300大姓排名（2008） [300 most common surnames in China (2008)] (in Chinese). Taiwan.cn. 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2014-03-05.
- ^ 嵇姓起源,名人及家谱 [Origin and famous people of the Ji surname] (in Chinese). Shangdu. 2008-07-17. Archived from the original on 2014-05-11. Retrieved 2014-03-05.
- ^ a b 嵇: 姓氏起源 详细解读 [Origin of the Ji surname] (in Chinese). China Education. 2011-04-11. Retrieved 2014-03-05.
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