The Zi Che surname#

Surname: Zi Che, pronounced as zǐ jū

Regions where the Zi Che surname is found#

Tianshui Commandery: Established in the third year of the Yuanding era of the Western Han Dynasty (441 BCE), with its administrative center in Pingxiang (present-day Tongwei, Gansu). At that time, its jurisdiction included the areas of present-day Tongwei County, Qin'an County, Dingxi County, Qingshui County, Zhuanglang County, Gangu County, Zhangjiachuan County, as well as the northwestern part of Tianshui City, the eastern part of Longxi, and the northeastern part of Yuzhong in Gansu Province.

Origins of the Zi Che surname#

The Zi Che surname is a compound surname in China. It can originate from either the Ying clan or the Jiang clan, both of which traced their lineage back to nobles from the State of Qin during the Spring and Autumn period. The names of these nobles were adopted as their surnames.

Founding ancestors of the Zi Che surname: Ying Ziche and Beiguo Ziche.

Migration and distribution

Although the Zi Che surname is quite ancient, it does not rank among the top 300 surnames in mainland China or Taiwan Province. In the Song Dynasty version of the "Hundred Family Surnames," it was listed as the 444th. The Zi Che clan originated in Tianshui Commandery.

Hall names associated with the Zi Che surname: Tianshui Hall, named after the place of their historical prominence.

Notable individuals with the Zi Che surname:

• Zi Che Yanxi: One of the "Three Good Men" of the Zi Che clan during the Spring and Autumn period. According to the "Zuo Zhuan," when Duke Mu of Qin died, three members of the Zi Che clan—Yanxi, Zhongxing, and Zhennhu—were buried with him as sacrifices. The people mourned their loss by composing the poem "Huang Niao" (Yellow Bird).
• Zi Che Zhongxing: Also one of the "Three Good Men."
• Zi Che Zhennhu: Yet another member of the same clan.

Historical notes: The Zi Che surname can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period, when the Zi Che clan was a prominent noble family in the State of Qin. This surname has a history of over 2,600 years. At that time, the State of Qin was located in the northeastern part of Lixian County (Gansu), east of Zhangjiachuan, and in the southeastern part of Baoji and Fengxiang in Shaanxi. The poem "Huang Niao" describes how three members of the Zi Che clan were sacrificed after Duke Mu of Qin's death, prompting the people to compose this lamentative poem. Over time, the Zi Che surname may have been changed to other surnames by later generations. The Zi Che clan is traditionally associated with Tianshui (present-day Tianshui City, Gansu Province).

Other cultural aspects: The "Tianshui Hall" was established in honor of the clan's historical significance.

These individuals represent the notable figures of the Zi Che surname throughout Chinese history.