The Qi Clan#

Clan Name: Qi, pronounced as “qī”

Distribution of the Qi Clan#

According to the “Xing Pu” (Genealogical Record), “Sun Linfu, a court official from the State of Wei, was granted lands in the area of Qi, and his descendants adopted this place as their clan name.” The origin of the clan is associated with the Donghai region. The Donghai Commandery was established during the Qin Dynasty and continued in use during the Han Dynasty. During the Qin and Han periods, the administrative center of the Donghai Commandery was located in Tan (approximately north of present-day Tancheng, Shandong Province); it was also known as the Tan Commandery during the Han Dynasty. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the clan members were relocated to the northern borders of Haiyu County (present-day Changshu, Jiangsu Province) and later moved to Jingkou (present-day Zhenjiang). During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Haizhou was used as the name for the Donghai Commandery, with its administrative center at Qushan (present-day Haizhou Town, Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province).

Origins of the Qi Clan#

The origin of the Qi clan is straightforward: it derived from the Ji surname. It originated from Sun Linfu, a court official of the State of Wei during the Spring and Autumn period, who took the name of his fiefdom as his clan name. Various historical texts, including the “Xing Pu,” “Wan Xing Tong Pu,” “Shi Ben·Shi Xing Pian,” “Gu Jin Shi Xing Shu Bian Zheng,” and “Tong Zhi·Shi Zhu Lue,” confirm that the Qi clan originated from the Ji family through Sun Linfu. Sun Linfu was a descendant of Duke Wu of Wei. Duke Wu of Wei had a son named Gongzi Huisun, and Huisun’s descendants were known as the Sun family. Sun Linfu, the seventh-generation descendant of Huisun, served as a high-ranking official during the reign of Duke Xian of Wei. Due to political setbacks, Sun Linfu fled to the states of Jin and Qi before returning to Wei during the reign of Duke Shang of Wei, where he was granted the fiefdom of Qi (present-day Qicheng, Puyang, Henan Province). Qi was a strategically important location at the border of several states, near the Yellow River, with fertile plains, making it an ideal place to settle. Sun Linfu’s descendants chose the name of their fiefdom as their clan name, thus establishing the Qi clan.

The Qi clan has a history of about 3,000 years. Although the number of people with the Qi surname is small in China, it is notably associated with Qi Jiguang, a famous general who fought against Japanese pirates during the Ming Dynasty. The Qi clan originated in northern China. According to the “Wan Xing Tong Pu,” the Qi clan descended from Sun Linfu, a court official of the State of Wei, who took the name of his fiefdom as his clan name. The clan became prominent in the Donghai region, which lies at the border of Shandong and Jiangsu provinces.

Notable Figures of the Qi Clan

• Qi Jiguang: A renowned general who fought against Japanese pirates during the Ming Dynasty. He played a crucial role in defending China from foreign threats and was posthumously honored with the title “Wu Yi” (Martial Valor).
• Qi Gongwen: A scholar and painter from the Southern and Northern Dynasties who contributed to the development of Chinese art and culture.
• Qi Gongzi: A person from the Song Dynasty who was involved in educational reforms and cultural activities.

The Qi clan is diverse in its origins and has a long history of influence in China. It ranks 227th among the most common surnames in mainland China and 24th in Taiwan Province. With a population of approximately 443,000, it accounts for about 0.028% of the national population. During the Chu-Han Wars in 205 BCE, Liu Bang was defeated and fled to Dingtao, where he met and married Qi Ji, the favorite concubine of Emperor Gaozu of Han. Qi Ji gave birth to Liu Bang’s son, Liu Ruyi. After Liu Bang became emperor, he brought Qi Ji and Ruyi to the capital. Qi Jiguang, a famous general during the Ming Dynasty, also belonged to this clan.

The Qi clan has spread across multiple ethnic groups and regions in China. Its influence can be seen in its historical contributions to art, culture, and politics.