有沒有想過「姓氏」的「姓」字為甚麼是女字旁？
中國原始時代是一個母系社會，人們都跟隨母親起「姓」，因此「姓」字也是由「女」和「生」組成，表示女人所生之意﹗後來，部落子孫繁衍，同一「姓」中分支出不同的「氏」。「氏」後來又漸漸成為有地位的男人的稱號，譬如我們的遠古祖先黃帝本姓姬，後來繼承神農為王，便稱為「軒轅氏」。到秦漢時期，「姓」和「氏」的含意逐漸合一，統稱為「姓」，是有共同父親血緣關係的家庭稱號。
中國人向來慎終追遠。要追尋你的「姓氏」始祖，便要回到中國歷個朝代和不同的地方尋找了。請進來「姓氏龍宮」，一探究竟。
Ever thought why is the Chinese character for surname formed by a feminine character?
Long ago in matriarchal society in the days of the primitive people, the mother’s surname would be inherited. Therefore, the character for surname is formed by combining the characters for “Female” (女) and “Procreate” (生), which simply means “given birth by a woman”. Later as the tribal society expanded, different “lineages” may branch out from the same surname. The hereditary “lineage” gradually became the title for man of status. One example is the earliest ancestral forebear of all Chinese people, the Yellow Emperor from antiquity, whose original surname was Ji, but he subsequently assumed the “Qian Yuan Lineage” after inheriting the throne from Shen Nong. By the Qin and Han periods, the distinction between “surname” and “lineage” gradually blurred and were eventually combined into a single surname, which became the family name for kinsmen related by blood and sharing the same birth father.
Chinese people value traditions immensely. In order to find out the origin of your surname, we have to return to different historical epochs and journey to different parts of the country. So, come in to the Surname Palace, and let’s find the answers to your questions.
「張」— 從一把弓而來
在傳說時代，黃帝為爭天下，與蚩尤展開了大戰。蚩尤部落的人十分兇猛，戰事相持不下。這時，黃帝有一個孫子，叫揮，利用老虎的筋做成了弓，能把利箭射出去很遠的地方，黃帝部落無需再與蚩尤貼身而戰，戰鬥力大大加強，蚩尤因而被打得落花流水。黃帝統一黃河流域成為各部落的首領之後，為表彰揮的功勞，封他為「弓長」，負責製造弓箭，並且賜他姓「張」。相傳就是張姓的最早由來。
During the mythical era, the Yellow Emperor battled Chi You for control of the world. Chi You’s tribesmen were very ferocious, and so the battle got into a stalemate. At this point, a grandson of the Yellow Emperor called Hui made a longbow using tiger ligaments which can shoot arrows to very far places. With this weapon greatly boosting fighting power, the Yellow Emperor’s tribe no longer had to fight in close quarter combats with the Chi Yous. As a result, the Chi Yous were roundly defeated. After the Yellow Emperor united the Yellow River Valley, he became chieftain of the various tribes in the region. As commendation for Hui’s valuable service, the Yellow Emperor bestowed upon him the title of “Longbow Chief” (弓長), putting him charge of making bows and arrows, and also conferring him the surname of “Zhang”, which is created by simply joining together the characters for “Longbow” and “Chief”. According to legend, this was how the surname Zhang came to be.
「李」是現今最多人用的超級大姓﹗它的始祖是傳說時代的皋陶(音高遙)，因為擔任堯帝的理官(即法官)，故以「理」為姓。他的後裔理利貞，因逃避紂王追殺，躲到現今河南省境內的深山避難，靠吃樹上的果實（古時稱為木子）充飢，才改為「李」姓，以感謝果樹的活命之恩。「李」姓子孫在歷史上稱帝者多達58人，其中那個「以古為鑑、以人為鏡」，開創了唐朝「貞觀之治」的李世民，更是威震寰宇﹗
“Li” is a surname befitting great fame in modern eras because it has the largest single group of people with this family name! Its origin can be traced to the personality of Gao Tao in mythical era. Since he was appointed to the official position of Li Guan (理官, otherwise known as judge), the initial character of his official position was being used as the family name. His descendant named Li Li-zhen later took refuge in high mountains in present-day Henan Province to escape from the pursuit by the army of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty, surviving by eating the plums plucked from trees. Later, as a tribute to the plum trees that saved his live he changed his surname to the character of “Li” for plums. There were as many as 58 descendants from this family name who have ascended to the throne over the course of Chinese history. The most famous of whom was none other than emperor Li Shi-min of Tang Dynasty, who earned great fame far and wide by his moral values and his rule.
「林」— 出林裏的比干後代
「林」姓最早的始祖是商朝的王族比干。比干本姓「子」，怎會成為「林」姓始祖呢？話說商朝末年，紂王荒淫無道，比干冒死勸諫，結果活生生給紂王剖腹取心﹗比干死後，他的子孫便逃到牧野（今河南省境內）的深山裏隱居。直至姬發(史稱周武王)滅掉紂王後，發現了比干的後代，武王因為他們曾住在山林裏居住，就賜「林」姓給他們，所以比干就成了林姓的始祖了。
The first forerunner of the surname “Lin” was Bi Gan, a royal heir during the Shang Dynasty. Bi Gan was formerly surnamed “Zi”, but how did he come to be the forerunner of the surname “Lin” (林)? The story starts from the closing years of the Shang Dynasty. King Zhou was so very depraved and irrational that Bi Gan risked his life to caution him. The result was King Zhou ordered Bi Gan to cut open himself alive and have his heart taken out! After Bi Gan died, his offspring escaped and hid in high mountains in Mu Ye (within present-day Hebei Province). Until Ji Fa (King Zhou Wu-wang ) ousted King Zhou in a big war and upon discovering the descendants of Bi Gan, King Zhou Wu-wang conferred them the character “Lin” for forest as surname because they have been living in the woods. Members of this clan became forerunners of people bearing the “Lin” family name.
「周」— 從中國第一個封建王朝而來
定居於岐山(今陝西省境內)的「周」原本只是一個小國，滅商以後，國土大大擴大了。為了有効管理各地，周武王便分封自己的兄弟和功臣為諸侯，各自管理封土內的事務，形成了中國歷史上所謂的封建王朝。經過二百多年的發展，諸侯們越來越強盛，周王室漸漸無力再控制他們，最終被戰國七雄之一的秦國滅掉。自此，本來姓姬的周王室後裔，便以國號為姓，變成了「周」姓的始祖。
The Zhou Kingdom used to be a tiny state in Qi Shan (within present-day Shaanxi Province). It significantly expanded its territory after the fall of the Shang Dynasty. In order to administer its regions more effectively, King Zhou Wu-wang sent off his honour-conferred brothers and generals to govern the affairs of territories granted to them. This gave rise to the so-called feudal orders in Chinese history. After over two hundred years of evolution, the nobilities became stronger and stronger until the Zhou royal family gradually lost its control on them. The Zhou was eventually conquered by, one of the seven powers of the Warring States period, the Qin Kingdom. From this time onward, descendants of the Zhou royal family changed their original surname “Ji” to the namesake of their lost kingdom, and became forerunners of people bearing the family name of “Zhou”.
「鄭」姓的始祖姬友(史稱鄭桓公)，生活在周宣王時代，封地在鄭（今陝西省境內），是周朝最後一個被封的諸侯國。後來他的兒子借護送周平王東遷洛陽的機會，在黃河以南的地方建立新的鄭國(今河南省境內)，從此國力日漸強盛，不斷擴張國土，更反過來挾持天子以號令其他諸侯，成為春秋初期的小霸主。直至戰國時代，鄭國滅亡，人民便以國號作為姓氏。所以「鄭」姓的發源地在河南省。
The forerunner of the “Zheng” surname was called Ji You (Zheng Huan-gong), who lived during the reign of King Zhou Xuan-wang and had a fief in a region called Zheng (in present-day Shaanxi Province). This was the last vassal state decreed by the Zhou Dynasty. Later on, by taking advantage of the opportunity of escorting King Zhou Ping-wang to relocate to the new capital of Luo Yang, the son of Ji You founded a new state called Zheng in the south banks of the Yellow River (within present-day Henan Province). That state steadily expanded its power and territorial dominion. Eventually, it was able to even coerce the Son of Heaven to dominate over other vassal nobilities, effectively making itself a Chieftain of Vassal Princes during the Spring and Autumn period. This state of affairs remained until the end of the Warring States period when the State of Zheng perished. Its people subsequently took the name of their former kingdom as surname. The “Zheng” family thus originated in Henan Province.
「郭」姓的由來有段令人嘆息的歷史故事。春秋時，晉獻公出兵攻打虢國（今河南省境內），為了請求位於中間的虞國借出通道，便重金賄賂。虞國國君因貪念而不聽大夫宮之奇「唇亡齒寒」的勸諌，答應了要求。結果，晉軍滅掉虢後，回程時順道把虞也滅了。這就是歷史上著名的「假途滅虢」故事了。虢國亡後，國人便以國號為姓，由於古時「虢」、「郭」同音，所以「虢」氏漸變成「郭」氏。
The origin of the “Guo” surname had a sad historical tale behind it. In the Spring and Autumn period, Jin Xian-gong sent his army to attack the State of Guo(虢) (within present-day Henan Province) and had to cross the territory of the state of Yu in order to do so. In persuading the state of Yu (虞) to let him through, heavy bribes were offered. Because of greed, the Monarch of the Yu refused to heed the cautions of his chief minister Gong Zhi Qi and granted the request of the Jin. But after defeating the State of Guo, the Jin army also subjugated the Yu on their back. This has become the origin of two idiom sayings. After the Guo fell, its subjects took the name of their defeated kingdom as surname. As “Guo” (虢) standing for the state is tonally identical to the character of “Guo” (郭) commonly used as people’s name, the character of “Guo” (郭) was eventually adopted.
大家都聽過發生於春秋末期那個「臥薪嘗膽」的故事吧。不聽伍子胥勸諌的吳王夫差，最終被經過三年艱苦準備的越王勾踐打敗，國破家亡，羞憤自殺。吳國王族改以「吳」為姓，並且奉泰伯為始祖。泰伯原是周太王亶父的大兒子，為人寬厚，孝敬父母。他知道父親想傳位給弟弟季歷，便自動讓賢，悄然從陝西跑到遙遠的江南，建立吳國(今江蘇省境內)，使這片蠻荒地帶逐漸變成富庶的魚米之鄉。
Many may have heard the tale of “endure hardships to accomplish ambitions” dating back to the late Spring and Autumn period. By failing to heed the advice of Wu Zhi-xu, King Fu Chai of the State of Wu was eventually defeated by King Gou Jian of the State of Yue who had prepared for battle over three years of hardship. Fu Chai ended up a broken man with no country or family, committing suicide in shame and bitterness. The surviving subjects of the Wu took the name of their subjugated kingdom as surname, and dedicated Tai Bo as forerunner of the clan. Tai Bo was formerly the eldest son of King Father Chan Fu of the Zhou. Tai Bo had an easy-going disposition and had great filial respect for his parents. He knew his father wanted to pass on the throne to his younger brother Ji Li, so he voluntarily made way for his younger brother to ascend to the throne by quietly slipping away to a far-flung part south of the Yangtze, subsequently founded the State of Wu (within present-day Jiangsu Province) there, and gradually turning this former infertile and savage country into a prospering land.
黃河流域是中華民族的主要發祥地，中國大多數姓氏正是由這條母親河哺育而生的。現時的山西、陝西、河南和山東是黃河流經的最後四省，它們都孕育了三個以上的姓氏，目前人口最多的一百個姓氏中有73個更源出於河南省。河南省可說是中華民族的根呢﹗
The Yellow River Valley is a main cradle of Chinese civilization where the great majority of Chinese surnames were nurtured. The present-day Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, and Shandong are the last four provinces along the course of the Yellow River before it flows into the sea. Each of them gave rise to at least three of the earliest surnames of the Chinese. Of the one hundred most populous surnames in the country today, 73 of them are found in Henan province alone. Henan province can truly be regarded as the root of the Chinese nation!
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