Ji (纪) Clan#

Clan Name: Ji (纪)#

Pronunciation: jì

Distribution of the Ji Clan#

• Linfen County, Shandong Province
• Gaoyang Commandery, Hebei Province

Origin of the Ji Clan#

The Ji Clan is one of the Chinese surnames, ranking 122nd in the “Hundred Family Surnames” (Bai Jia Xing).

Origins of the Ji Surname#

There are two theories regarding the origin of the Ji surname:

1. Derived from the Jiang (姜) Clan: According to the “Yuan He Xing Zuan” and “Tong Zhi · Shi Zhu Lue – Yi Guo Wei Shi”, in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, in order to commemorate the virtues of ancient sages and kings, a descendant of the Yan Emperor was enfeoffed in Ji (located southeast of present-day Shouguang County, Shandong Province), where the state of Ji was established. During the Spring and Autumn period, the state of Ji was conquered by the state of Qi. The descendants of the Ji royal family adopted the name of the state as their surname and passed it down through generations.
2. Ancient Ji Clan: Fuxi had a minister named Ji Dong, who belonged to the Ji clan. Before Shun became emperor, there was also a teacher named Ji Hou, who was also a descendant of the ancient Ji clan.

Migration and Distribution#

While the Ji Clan is not among the top 100 largest surnames on the Chinese mainland, it is the 71st most common surname in Taiwan. The Ji Clan is considered a descendant of the Yan Emperor. Legend has it that the ancestors of the Ji Clan established the state of Ji in the Ji area (around present-day Jitai Village, south of Shouguang, Shandong Province). During the Spring and Autumn period, the state of Ji was defeated by the state of Qi, and the descendants of its nobles adopted the name “Ji” as their surname in memory of their homeland. The Ji Clan later became a prominent clan in Tianshui Commandery, Gansu Province, and was known as the “Tianshui Wang” (prominent clan of Tianshui). During the Tang and Song dynasties, the Ji Clan began to migrate towards the coastal areas, and during the Ming and Qing dynasties, they further migrated to Taiwan, eventually becoming a prominent surname there.

Notable People with the Ji Surname#

• Ji Yun: Characterized by the courtesy name Xiaolan and the late-style name Shiyun, he was from Hejian during the Qing Dynasty. He was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and served as a compiler and editor. He reached the position of Vice Grand Secretary and was granted the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. Well-versed in Confucian classics and other disciplines, he served as the chief editor of the “Siku Quanshu” (Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature), providing summaries for each book and including those not recorded in the official catalog. He dedicated more than 20 years to the compilation of this project, leaving a significant legacy. His works include “Yue Wei Cao Tang Bi Ji” (Notes from Yue Wei Thatched Hall) and several other books.