The Yi Clan#

Clan Name: Yi, pronounced as “yì”

Distribution of the Yi Clan#

• Jiyang Commandery: Established during the reign of Emperor Hui of the Jin Dynasty, with its administrative center in Jiyang. This area corresponds to the eastern part of present-day Lankao in Henan Province and the southern part of Dongming in Shandong Province.
• Taiyuan Commandery: Established in the fourth year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin during the Warring States period, with its administrative center in Jinyang. During the Qin Dynasty, this area included the regions north of Wutai Mountain and Huo Mountain in present-day Shanxi Province. In the Northern Wei Dynasty, it corresponded to the Jinzhong region between Yangqu, Jiaocheng, and Heshun, as well as the northwestern part of Hebei Province.

Origins of the Yi Clan#

1. From the Jiang Clan: When King Wu of Zhou launched his campaign against King Zhou of Shang, Jiang Shang served as the military advisor, assisting King Wu in achieving victory and gaining his trust. Jiang Shang was later granted a fief in the Yi area, and some of his descendants adopted the name of the place as their clan name, thus originating the Yi clan in Hebei.
2. Descendants of Yi Ya from the Qi State: Yi Ya was a favored minister of the Qi king. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was skilled in cooking but was also known for his opportunistic nature. After Guan Zhong’s death, Yi Ya and others seized power, killed many officials, and deposed the crown prince to establish a new ruler. Yi Ya’s descendants continued to use the name Yi as their clan name, forming the Yi clan in Shandong.
3. Descendants of Jiang Taigong: Some descendants of Jiang Taigong were granted a fief in Yi Zhou (the area around present-day Yi County, Hebei Province) and adopted the name of the fief as their clan name.
4. From place names: In ancient times, there was a place called Yi Zhou, and the local people adopted the name of the area as their clan name.
5. Minority Groups: Ethnic groups such as the Yi, Shui, Miao, Tujia, and Naxi also have the Yi clan name.

Ancestral Figure of the Clan:
Lü Shang, also known as Jiang Ziya, was a tribal leader of the Jiang clan during the early Zhou Dynasty. He played a key role in the defeat of King Zhou of Shang and was highly respected by King Wu, who granted him the title of “Shangfu” and the privilege to lead military campaigns against other lords. Some of Lü Shang’s descendants were granted a fief in the Yi area and adopted the name of the fief as their clan name.

Distribution of the Clan
The Yi clan originated mainly in Hebei and Shandong. There are few historical records about the early history of the clan; however, during the Three Kingdoms period, there were officials from the Yi clan in various regions, including Yongzhou and Wei Commandery. In the Western Jin Dynasty, there was Yi Xiong, the governor of Chongling; in the Former Liang Dynasty, there was General Yi Ting; and in the Tang Dynasty, there was Yi Chong, who settled locally. From the Song Dynasty onward, the Yi clan became more prevalent in Hebei, Hunan, Gansu, and Jiangxi. During the Ming Dynasty, members of the Yi clan migrated to Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Hubei. In modern times, the Yi clan has mainly developed and thrived in the Jiangnan region. There are also Yi descendants in Singapore.

Hall Names of the Clan
Common hall names include “Chunxiao Hall” and “Zhili Hall.” For example, during the Song Dynasty, Yi Yanqing served as a court official and planted two chestnut trees near his mother’s grave, which grew together, inspiring people to call him “Mr. Pure Filial Piety.”

Clan Characteristics

• The Yi clan originated in the north but became prominent in the south, making it a typical southern clan.
• The clan has strict family rules and traditions that have been followed for centuries.
• One of the most famous stories about the Yi clan is that of Yi Yanqing, whose filial piety moved the heavens, inspiring the use of the hall names “Chunxiao” (Pure Filial Piety) and “Zhili” (Planting Chestnuts) to teach future generations.

Common Couplets for the Yi Clan Ancestral Hall
These couplets reflect the history and traditions of the Yi clan:

• Four-character couplets:

  • “The clan originated in the Yi area; its talents flourished in Taiyuan.” (This couplet refers to the clan’s origins and historical prominence.)
  • “The tomb where ganoderma mushrooms grew; a genius born in the land of osmanthus.” (This couplet commemorates Yi Yanqing, a famous figure from the Northern Song Dynasty.)

• Six-character couplets:

  • “Mr. Pure Filial Piety was highly respected; the poet-champion was renowned for his poetry.” (This couplet honors Yi Yanqing’s filial piety and poetic talent.)
  • “The teachings of the Three Classics became famous far and wide.” (This couplet acknowledges the contributions of Yi clan scholars.)

These couplets celebrate the heritage and achievements of the Yi clan throughout history.