柏姓
The Bai Clan, originating from Henan's Wei County, has three main origins: a Zhou Dynasty state named Bai, the tribal leader Bai Yi from Yao's era, and the totem of the cypress tree. It spread to regions like Shandong, with a hall name Zhongshu, and includes notable figures such as Ming Dynasty's Bai Conggui, who contributed to flood control projects.
The Bai Clan
Clan Name: Bai, pronounced as “bǎi”
Regions Where the Bai Clan Is Found**
Wei County in Henan Province, and Jiyang County in Shandong Province. The clan’s origin can be traced back to Wei County.
Origins of the Bai Clan
There are mainly three origins for the Bai surname:
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Name derived from a fiefdom: The origin of this surname dates back to before the Three Dynasties. During the Zhou Dynasty, there was a state called Bai, also known as Baizi State, with its location near present-day Baiting in Xiping, Henan. According to legend, the founding monarch of Bai State was Bai Gao, a subject of the Yellow Emperor. When the state was conquered by the Chu Dynasty during the Spring and Autumn period, the descendants of the monarch adopted the name of the state as their own surname. As recorded in “Tongzhi. Shizu Lue”: “Bai State was located in present-day Xiping County, Caizhou, and was destroyed by the Chu. Its descendants took the name of the state as their surname.”
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Name derived from a personal name: The ancestor was Bai Yi, who was a tribal leader during the time of Yao and belonged to the Ying clan. As mentioned in “Shiji. Qin Ben Jing”: “Dafei was appointed to assist Shun in training birds and beasts; he achieved great success in this task, and Shun granted him the Ying surname.” From then on, Bai Yi had two surnames: Bai and Ying, and his descendants split into two branches, one of which adopted the Bai surname.
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Name derived from a type of tree: In ancient times, there was a tribal leader named Bo Zhi, who used the cypress tree as his totem and was thus called Bo Zhi. It is said that Bo Zhi assisted Fuxi, worked diligently for the people without seeking fame or reward, and was highly respected by them, earning the title of “Huangbo” (Royal Uncle). His descendants took the surname Bo. In ancient times, this surname was also written as “Bo”.
Migration and Distribution: The Bai clan, distributed across various regions, generally has its own branch ancestors and reasons for migration.
Hall Name: Zhongshu Hall (Hall of Loyalty and Forgiveness)
Notable People with the Bai Surname:
Bai Conggui: A native of Baoying during the Ming Dynasty. During the Hongwu period, he proposed to the imperial court the construction of a dike along the Huai River and the erection of 40 li (approximately 20 kilometers) of locust trees to prevent floods. Emperor Hongwu adopted his suggestion. A total of 56,000 laborers were conscripted from the Huaiyang area to lead this ambitious project. After its completion, the locals named the dike “Bai Family Dike.” His family has continued to benefit the people for generations, leaving a lasting legacy.