The Gui Surname#

Surname: Gui, pronounced as “guī”

Distribution of the Gui Surname#

The Gui surname was prevalent in the Jingzhao Commandery (established in the first year of the Taichu era during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, comprising twelve counties). During the Three Kingdoms period, the Wei state established this commandery, with its administrative center in Chang’an (present-day Xi’an, Shaanxi Province). This area is roughly located north of the Qinling Mountains, east of Xi’an, and south of the Wei River in Shaanxi Province.

Origin of the Gui Surname#

The Gui surname has two possible origins:

1. Derived from the Ji surname: The Gui family descended from the Yellow Emperor and adopted the name of their ancestral state as their surname. According to legend, before ascending to the throne, the Yellow Emperor served as the leader of the Guicang tribe (in present-day Zigui, Hubei). After becoming emperor, he appointed one of his sons to continue ruling Guicang. Subsequent generations of the Guicang rulers used “Guicang” as their surname, which over time was simplified to the single character “Gui.”
2. Derived from the state name of the Huzi State during the Spring and Autumn period: Some members of the Gui family traced their origin to the Huzi State, adopting the state name as their surname.

Founding Ancestors of the Gui Surname Notable figures include Guicang Jun, Huzi Bao (also known as Bao Gui), and ?y Jun (?y Gui).

Migration and Distribution Although the Gui surname is an ancient Han Chinese surname, it does not rank among the top 300 most common surnames in mainland China. In Taiwan Province, it is ranked 588th, and in the Song Dynasty version of the “Hundred Family Surnames,” it was ranked 471st. The Gui family originated from the Jingzhao Commandery. There are Gui clans distributed in various regions, including Zhengzhou and Xinye County in Henan Province, Qinzhou’s Qinnan District and Wuming County in Nanning City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, Suzhou and Changshu in Jiangsu Province, Deqing and Haining in Zhejiang Province, Jiading District in Shanghai, and Qian County in Shaanxi Province.

Hall Names The “Jingzhao Hall” is a common hall name for Gui clans.

Generational Patterns The generation pattern for the Gui family in Qinzhou, Guangxi, is: “Taide Fengxi Chengchao Guosheng Xinshi Longzong Pin Dazhong Rong (Shu) Chang Fada Zhenjiasheng.”

Notable People with the Gui Surname

• Gui Rong: A grandson of Gui Chongjing who held the high position of Minister of War during the Tang Dynasty. Three generations of the Gui family served as Ministers of War, which was considered a remarkable achievement at the time. Gui Rong was known for his integrity and fairness in handling affairs.
• Gui Youguang: (1507–1571), from Kunshan (now part of Jiangsu Province), was a prominent figure of the Ming Dynasty. He was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the imperial examinations) and served as Deputy Minister of the Imperial Stables in Nanjing. His prose was highly regarded, and he opposed the revivalist movement promoted by Wang Shizhen, joining the “Tang-Song School” with scholars like Wang Shenzhong and Mao Kun.
• Gui Changshi: (1574–1645), also from Kunshan, moved to Changshu. His works include the “Weishui Qingfeng Tu” (Scroll of the Clear Wind over the Wei River), now housed in the Nanjing Museum; the “Fengzhu Tu” (Scroll of Bamboo in the Wind), in the Guangzhou Art Museum; and the “Zhushi Tu” (Scroll of Bamboo and Rock), with the inscription: “Sturdy integrity carries fragrance; aspirations reach the heavens. Calling a boy to sweep the fallen leaves, he finds a phoenix feather.” His works are also collected in the Palace Museum.
• Gui Zhuang: A literary figure from the early Qing Dynasty, also known as Zuo Ming (1613–1673) and Xuan Gong. A great-grandson of Gui Youguang, he was a member of the Fusheng literary circle at the end of the Ming Dynasty. He was skilled in calligraphy and painting and wrote poetry. His collected works are lost.

The Gui surname has a rich cultural heritage and a long history in China.