The Linghu Surname#

Surname: Linghu, pronounced as lìng hú

Distribution of the Linghu Surname#

Taiyuan Commandery: The Taiyuan Commandery was established during the Qin and Han dynasties, with its administrative center in Jinyang, located in the southwest of present-day Taiyuan City. During the Sui dynasty, Jinyang was renamed Taiyuan, and a separate Jinyang was established, which became part of the same city as Taiyuan. The Taiyuan Prefecture during the Tang dynasty was also located here. During the Song dynasty, under Emperor Taizong's reign, Bingzhou was renamed Taiyuan Prefecture, and its capital was moved to Yangqu (present-day Taiyuan City). Subsequent dynasties, including Song, Jin, and the Ming and Qing dynasties, also made this area their provincial capitals.

Origin of the Linghu Surname#

The origin of the Linghu surname is straightforward: it originates from the Ji surname, which was altered from the Wei surname, with the name of a local district being adopted as the family name. In ancient times, King Wen of Zhou had a son named Bi Yigao. Bi Yigao’s grandson, Bi Wan, held a high position in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period. Bi Wan’s great-grandson, Wei Ke, distinguished himself in battle by capturing a prominent general of the Qin state, Du Hui. For this achievement, he was granted the land of Linghu by the ruler of Jin, which is located in the area west of present-day Linyi County, Shanxi Province. Wei Ke’s descendants adopted the name of the land as their surname, marking them as the Linghu clan, descendants of the royal family of the Zhou dynasty.

Founder of the Surname:
Wei Ke is considered the founder of the Linghu surname. The Linghu clan descended from the Ji surname and was altered from the Wei surname, with the name of the local district becoming the family name. During the Spring and Autumn period, Wei Ke led his troops in battle against the Qin army and encountered the brave general Du Hui. Unable to defeat Du Hui directly, Wei Ke retreated while fighting. However, Du Hui was tripped by a rope made of thatch by an old man, allowing Wei Ke to capture him. Wei Ke later defeated the Qin forces. This old man was actually the father of Zui Ji, a favorite concubine of Wei Ke’s father. When Wei Ke’s father passed away, Wei Ke refused to let Zui Ji be buried with him and instead arranged for her to remarry. Zui Ji’s father came to repay Wei Ke’s kindness by helping him in this situation. After Wei Ke’s military achievements, Duke Jing of Jin granted him the land of Linghu as a reward. Wei Ke’s son then adopted the name of this land as their surname, establishing the Linghu clan.

Migration and Distribution:
The Linghu surname has not made it into the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. The name “Linghu” originally referred to a place during the Spring and Autumn period, specifically the area west of present-day Yishi County, Shanxi Province, as recorded in the “Shui Jing·Dong Shui Zhu.” How did this place become a surname? According to the “Tang Shu·Zaixiang Shixi Table,” the state of Jin, which once dominated the region during the Spring and Autumn period, was divided among the Han, Zhao, and Wei families in 376 BCE. The Wei family, which claimed descent from King Wen of Zhou, rose to power in Jin. Wei Ke, a famous general of Jin, fought against the Qin army and was eventually defeated by Du Hui. However, Du Hui was tripped by an old man, allowing Wei Ke to capture him. This old man was Zui Ji’s father, who had been spared from being buried with Wei Ke’s father. To repay this favor, Zui Ji’s father came to assist Wei Ke in battle. After Wei Ke’s victory, Duke Jing of Jin granted him the land of Linghu as a reward. Wei Ke’s son adopted the name of this land as their surname, thus establishing the Linghu clan.

Notable Figures with the Linghu Surname:

• Linghu Chu: A minister and poet of the Tang dynasty, from Huayuan, Yizhou. After passing the imperial examinations, he held various government positions and made significant contributions to politics. He often collaborated with famous poets such as Bai Juyi and Liu Yuxi. His son, Linghu Wei, also became a high-ranking official.
• Linghu Zi Zhi: Son of Linghu Chu, he also passed the imperial examinations and held various government positions, eventually becoming the prime minister.
• Linghu Debao: A renowned scholar of the Tang dynasty, known for his extensive knowledge of literature and history. He organized the compilation of classical texts and played a key role in the compilation of the historical records of the Liang, Chen, Zhou, Qi, and Sui dynasties. He served as an academician in the imperial academy and held several high-ranking positions during the Tang dynasty.

Hall Names Associated with the Linghu Surname:

• Qi Mu Tang: This hall is named after a man from the Later Wei dynasty named Linghu Shi, who lost his father at a young age and mourned his mother for ten years. He was highly respected for his filial piety.
• Bo Shi Tang: This hall is named after Linghu Shi and his brothers, who managed their household frugally and generously donated their wealth to the poor.

The Linghu surname has a rich history of over 2,300 years, with its origins traced back to the Taiyuan Commandery, mainly concentrated in the Taiyuan area of Shanxi Province.