Ji (Surname)#

Surname: Ji, pronounced as “jí”.

Distribution of the Ji Surname#

The Ji lineage originated from the Guangping Commandery. In the first year of the Zhongyuan era of Emperor Jing of Han (149 BCE), the Guangping Commandery was established by splitting the Handan Commandery, with its administrative center located in Guangping (now southeast of Jize, Hebei Province). This area corresponds to parts of present-day Ren County, Jize, Quzhou, Yongnian in Hebei Province, as well as parts of Feixiang to the northwest of Pingxiang. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Guangping Commandery was merged into the Julu Commandery; it was re-established at the beginning of the Wei Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period.

Origin of the Ji Surname#

The Ji surname has two possible origins:

1. Deriving from the Ji clan: During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a nobleman in the state of Jin named Bo Yan, who was the grandson of Duke Xiang of Jin (or, according to another theory, the grandson of Xun Linfu, a high-ranking official in Jin). Bo Yan was responsible for managing the state’s archives. Some of his descendants adopted “Ji” as their surname, which is the origin of the Ji lineage today.
2. Derived from place names: During the same period, there were places named Ji Pu in the state of Wei and Ji Qiu in the state of Qi, and the people living there also took “Ji” as their surname.

Ancestor of the Ji Surname The ancestor of the Ji surname is Bo Yan. The name “Ji” originally meant “archives” or “documents.” During the Spring and Autumn period, there was an official position in Jin called “Ji Shi” (Archivist), responsible for preserving the state’s records. Bo Yan held this position, and his descendants adopted “Ji” as their surname. The Ji family held prominent roles in Jin for generations. However, after the division of Jin during the Warring States period, they migrated from their hometown in Shanxi to the area around present-day Shangqiu, Henan Province, to Tongshan County, Jiangsu Province, where they continued to thrive and eventually became a distinguished family in Yongping County, Hebei Province (formerly part of the Guangping Commandery). Those seeking the roots of the Ji family can trace their ancestry to Shangqiu and Yongping.

Distribution of the Ji Surname The Ji surname does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. It originates from the Ji clan. During the Spring and Autumn period, Bo Yan, a nobleman in Jin, served as the Archivist and was responsible for managing the state’s archives. Some of his descendants adopted “Ji” as their surname, marking the beginning of the Ji lineage.

Common Couplets for Ji Family Ancestral Temples Four-character couplets for Ji Family Ancestral Temples:

• “Maintaining ancient records to assist the court.” (This couplet refers to Ji Tan, a high-ranking official in Jin who was sent on missions to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. When King Jing of Zhou asked why Jin had never offered gifts, Ji Tan replied that Jin had never received any rewards from the Zhou royal family.)
• “Diligently managing archives and forgetting one’s ancestors.” (This couplet refers to Ji Fu, a man from the Western Han Dynasty who recommended Dou Ying, a hero in suppressing the Rebellion of the Seven States, for the position of Chancellor.)

Seven-character couplets for Ji Family Ancestral Temples:

• “Honest and frugal, serving as the Minister of Vehicles; striving to lead the army.” (This couplet refers to Ji Yan, a famous official in Jin who played a key role in governing the state.)

Anecdote about the Ji Surname: “Forgetting one’s ancestors while citing ancient records” The phrase “forgetting one’s ancestors while citing ancient records” comes from the story of Ji Tan. During the Spring and Autumn period, Jin sent Ji Tan and Xun Luo as envoys to the Zhou Dynasty. When King Jing of Zhou asked why Jin had never offered gifts, Ji Tan explained that Jin had never received any rewards. King Jing pointed out that Jin had continuously received gifts from the Zhou royal family since its founding. This anecdote illustrates how one can focus so much on historical facts that they forget their own roots.

The Ji family can be traced back to Shangqiu and Yongping. Therefore, the descendants of the Ji family honor Bo Yan as the ancestor of their surname.