The Xi Family Name#

Surname: Xi (pronounced: xí)

Distribution of the Xi Family Name#

• Dongyang Commandery: Established during the Three Kingdoms period by the state of Wu. Corresponds to the present-day Jinhua area in Zhejiang Province.
• Xiangyang Commandery: Established during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Corresponds to the area around present-day Xiangfan City in Hubei Province.

Origin of the Xi Family Name#

The Xi surname has two possible origins:

1. Derived from a state name: In ancient China, there was a feudal state named Xi. After the state was conquered, some of its aristocrats adopted the name of the state as their surname.
2. Derived from a place name: During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a place called Shaoxi, located more than 180 li east of present-day Shang County, Shaanxi Province. Later known as Wuguan. Those who lived in this area adopted the name of the place as their surname.

Founder of the Xi Family Name

The founder of the Xi family name is Xi Xiang. According to historical records, Xi Xiang was from the ancient state of Xi and served as the chancellor of the state of Chen. Another theory suggests that the Xi surname originated from the place name Shaoxi.

Hall Names (Tanghao)

• Zhonglie Hall (Hall of Loyalty and Valor): During the Shu Han period, there was a man named Xi Zhen who served as the military commander of Lingling. When Sun Quan launched an attack on Guan Yu, Xi Zhen resisted the Wu forces alone in Lingling. When Sun Quan sent envoys to persuade him to surrender, Xi Zhen replied with great integrity, “Tell that man with the green eyes to go back and tell him that I would rather be a ghost of the Han than a subject of Wu!” Eventually, with no food supplies and no reinforcements, Xi Zhen committed suicide with his sword to serve his country.

Migration and Distribution

The Xi surname has not made it into the top 100 most common surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. The Xi surname originates from a place name from the Spring and Autumn period, specifically the mountain Shaoxi (now in Fengyang County, Shaanxi Province). The influential family of the Xi clan was originally from Dongyang Commandery, which is corresponding to today’s Jinhua City in Zhejiang Province. Descendants of Xi Xiang are honored as the founders of the Xi family name.

Common Couplets for the Xi Family Ancestral Hall

• Four-character couplet for the Xi Family Ancestral Hall:
  "Originating from the state of Xi; Renowned from Xiangyang."
  This couplet refers to the historical origins and prominence of the Xi family name.

• Seven-character couplet for the Xi Family Ancestral Hall:
  "Historical writings praise the elegance of the Spring and Autumn period; The beauty of Xianshan is immortalized."
  This couplet highlights the cultural achievements of notable figures from the Xi family, such as Xi Zhen and Xi Yu.

Notable Figures with the Xi Surname

• Xi Zhen: A military commander during the Shu Han period who resisted the Wu forces with a small army in Lingling. He refused to surrender and chose to die for his country.
• Xi Wen: A native of Xiangyang during the Eastern Wu dynasty who loved to read the works of sages and was known for his integrity and honesty. He once criticized his son for being excessively extravagant.

Notes on the Origin of the Xi Surname:
Another theory suggests that the Xi surname originated from a small feudal state that used "Xi" as its name, and its inhabitants adopted it as their surname. This theory, however, is not as well-documented in historical texts and is not officially recognized as the official origin of the Xi surname.