The Shi surname#

Surname: Shi, pronunciation: shǐ

Distribution of the Shi surname#

• Jiankang Commandery: Established during the Former Liang period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, with its administrative center located in the southwest of Gaotai, Gansu. Abolished during the Northern Wei dynasty.
• Xuancheng Commandery: Established in the second year of the Taikang era of the Jin dynasty (281 AD), with its capital in Wanling (present-day Xuancheng, Anhui).
• Gaomi Commandery: Reorganized from Jiaoxi Commandery during the first year of the Benshi era of the Western Han dynasty (73 BC), with its capital in Gaomi. Re-established as a commandery during the Western Jin dynasty and later converted back to a commandery during the Southern Song dynasty, with its capital in Sangdu City (east of present-day Weifang, Shandong).
• Jingzhao Commandery: Reorganized from Neiyoushi during the first year of the Taichu era of the Han dynasty (104 BC), becoming one of the three important regions under central government control, with its capital in Chang'an.

Origins of the Shi surname#

1. The Shi surname originated from people who held the official position of "historian" (shishi). According to the "Tang Shu: Zai Xiang Shi Xi Table," the Shi family descended from Shi Yi, a historian of the Zhou dynasty. "Yi" is also written as "yi"; "shishi" was an official title, specifically referring to someone responsible for recording the words and deeds of the emperor. Shi Yi is sometimes mentioned alongside Jiang Taigong and the Duke of Zhou as one of the "Four Sages." Those who held this position adopted the Shi surname as their family name.
2. The Shi surname was also one of the "Nine Surnames of Zhao Wu." (See the "He" surname.) The ancient state of Shi was located in what is now Uzbekistan, south of Samarkand. It was briefly under the jurisdiction of the Tang dynasty and later became part of the Chinese empire during the Yonghui era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang. The Shi family originated from this region.
3. Another branch of the Shi family came from the Ashina clan, who lived in the Doumu Mountains. They were known as the Turks and ruled for ten generations during the Wei and Jin dynasties. Later, they came under the rule of the Rourou people, with the Ashina clan becoming their leaders. In the late Western Zhou dynasty, they conquered the Rourou and dominated the northern regions for over a hundred years. After the fall of the Rourou, they converted to Chinese culture and adopted the Shi surname during the Tang dynasty's Kaiyuan era.

Hall names (Tanghao):

• Zhonglie Tang (Hall of Loyalty and Valor): During the late Ming dynasty, Shi Kefa served as the Minister of War and Grand Secretary, leading the defense of Yangzhou against the Qing forces. When Yangzhou was under threat, he wrote a farewell letter to his elderly mother and wife, designating his deputy general, Shi Dewei, as his son and instructing him to bury him beside Emperor Xiaoling of Ming. After the city fell, Shi Kefa refused to surrender and committed suicide; Shi Dewei, overcome with grief, was captured by the Qing troops. Despite being persuaded to surrender, he remained steadfast and died a heroic death for his country.

Migration and distribution:

The Shi surname has a diverse ethnic and historical background. It ranks 85th on the list of common surnames, with a population of approximately 3.076 million, accounting for about 0.19% of the total Chinese population. The Shi family has a long history of holding official positions, and their presence can be traced back to the pre-Qin period when historians were commonly appointed in various states. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Shi surname was widely distributed across China. For example, Shi Gong from the State of Lu moved from Lu (present-day Qufu, Shandong) to Duling (northwest of present-day Chang'an, Shaanxi). Shi Chong, a descendant of Shi Gong, moved his family to Liyang (present-day Gucheng Town, Jiangsu) at the beginning of the Eastern Han dynasty. Other branches of the Shi family migrated to various places, including Gaomi (present-day Shandong) and Jingzhao (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). During the Western Han dynasty, Shi Cen from the State of Pei (present-day Pei County, Jiangsu) was exiled to Hepu (present-day Hepu County, Guangxi) for a crime, while Shi Li was exiled to Hepu for another offense. During the Eastern Han dynasty, Shi Tongping moved to Qingshen County (present-day Sichuan). In the late Western Han dynasty, the Shi family spread to various regions of China.

Today, the Shi surname can be found in Henan, Luoyang, and Minquan in China, as well as in Hunan, Zhejiang, Shanxi, Jiangxi, Hebei, Hubei, Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, and Yunnan. After the Qing dynasty, some Shi descendants emigrated abroad, settling in countries such as Singapore.

Notable people with the Shi surname:

• Shi Gong: Uncle of Emperor Xuan of Han, governor of Liangzhou, who played a key role in raising and supporting Emperor Xuan, and was granted the title of Marquis of Duling.
• Shi Kefa: A famous general who resisted the Qing forces during the late Ming dynasty, serving as a Grand Secretary and Minister of War.
• Shi Zhenlin: A renowned literary figure of the Qing dynasty from Jintan, Jiangsu, known for works such as "Xi Qing San Ji" and "Hua Yang San Gao."