The Shuai Clan#

Clan Name: Shuai, pronounced as “shuài”

Regions Where the Shuai Clan Is Found#

• Nanyang Commandery: Established during the Qin Dynasty, located to the south of the Nanshan Mountains and north of the Han River. The Han Dynasty continued to govern this area, with its administrative center in Wan (present-day Nanyang, Henan).
• Henan Commandery: Originally part of the Sanchuan Commandery during the Qin Dynasty, it was renamed Henan Commandery during the Han Dynasty, with its administrative center in Luoyang (about 30 miles northeast of present-day Luoyang, Henan).
• Fanyang Commandery: During the Three Kingdoms period (Wei), the Zhuzhou Commandery was renamed Fanyang Commandery, covering the areas of present-day Zhuoxian in Hebei, as well as Changping and Fangshan in Beijing.
• Pingyuan Commandery: Established in the Western Han Dynasty, corresponding to the Pingyuan County area in northwestern Shandong.
• Taiyuan Prefecture: Also known as Taiyuan Commandery.

Origins of the Shuai Clan#

The Shuai surname has several origins:

1. Derived from official positions, originating from the descendants of Shi Wu, a high-ranking official of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn Period. The surname was changed to avoid taboos.
2. Derived from official positions, originating from the official Shi Shuai of the Western Zhou Dynasty. The surname was based on his official title.
3. Derived from the Ji surname, originating from the descendants of Shi?m, the Grand Minister of the Jin Dynasty. The surname was changed to avoid taboos.
4. Derived from official positions, originating from the official Shuai Dudu during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The surname was based on his official title.
5. Derived from official positions, originating from the official Shuai Si during the Southern Song Dynasty. The surname was based on his official title.

Ancestors of the Clan

The founding ancestors of the Shuai clan are Shi Wu and Shi?m.

Migration and Distribution

Although the Shuai clan is an ancient Han Chinese surname, its population does not rank among the top 300 most common surnames in mainland China. In Taiwan Province, it ranks 392nd. The Shuai clan originated in the Western Jin Dynasty when the Jin capital was established in Luoyang, later moving to Chang’an. Therefore, the areas around Luoyang and Chang’an in Shanxi are considered the birthplaces of the clan. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties and the Tang and Song Dynasties, the clan gradually spread to surrounding regions and the Jiangnan area, forming prominent clans in Henan, Hebei, and Shandong, with Nanyang, Fanyang, and Pingyuan Commanderies as its central areas of influence. Today, the Shuai clan is mainly distributed in Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Anhui, and other provinces. The Shuai surname does not currently rank among the top 300 most common surnames in China.

Provinces with Significant Shuai Populations

• Jiangsu Province: Nantong, Jiangdu, Taizhou, Huai’an
• Chongqing Municipality: Hechuan County
• Hubei Province: Shiyan, Kaijiang, Tianmen, Hong’an, Yichang, Xiaogan, Gucheng, Xishui, Dawu, Huangmei, Xiangfan
• Jiangxi Province: Nanchang (Xinjian, Jiujiang, Fengxin, Ji’an, Fuzhou (Linchuan, Jinxian, Tonggu)
• Hebei Province: Baoding, Wen’an
• Shandong Province: Weifang, Rizhao, Anqiu
• Hunan Province: Changde, Hanshou, Yiyang, Xinhuan
• Guangdong Province: Nanhai District, Foshan
• Guizhou Province: Anshun
• Shanxi Province: Yuanping, Ying County (Dalinhe Village)
• Shaanxi Province: Yangling District, Shangluo (Danfeng County)
• Sichuan Province: Leshan, Xichong, Jianwei, Yibin, Dujiangyan
• Liaoning Province: Xifeng
• Fujian Province: Jianning
• Zhejiang Province: Hangzhou
• Yunnan Province: Qujing, Yanjin

Hall Names (Tanghao)

• Pingyuan Hall: Named after the clan’s prominent area of influence.
• Lingshi Hall: Named after the clan’s historical significance.
• Shouqin Hall: Refers to the tradition of teaching the art of playing the qin; during the Spring and Autumn Period, Shi Xiang, a musician from the State of Lu, was known for his skill in playing the qin, and Confucius once studied under him.

Notable People with the Shuai Surname

• Shuai Wo: (1648–1725), a scholar from the Qing Dynasty. His courtesy name was Beijie, and his art name was Jianzhai. He was proficient in calligraphy, painting, and medicine. He passed the imperial examinations in the 50th year of the Kangxi reign and served as a court official. He wrote the “Molan Ting Ji” (a collection of works) and other literary works.
• Shuai Rengzu: A writer from the Qing Dynasty. His courtesy name was Zongdao, and his art name was Jieting Shanren. He was the eldest son of Shuai Wo and was skilled in traditional Chinese medicine. He wrote the “Shi Tui Shan Fang Shi Gao” (two volumes) and other literary works.
• Shuai Fangwei: (1790–1872), a scholar from the