Jing Family Name#

Family Name: Jing, Pronunciation: jīng

Distribution of the Jing Family Name#

• Xingyang Commandery: Established during the Qin Dynasty, its jurisdiction covered the area of present-day Yuanyang City, Henan Province.
• Pingyang Commandery: There were two historical Pingyang Commanderies:
  1. The current Linfen City, Shanxi Province. Pingyang County was established in the early Western Han Dynasty (202 BCE), with its administrative center in Pingyang (present-day Linfen, Shanxi). In the 8th year of the Zhengshi era of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period (247 CE), a part of Hedong Commandery was merged with Pingyang County to form Pingyang Commandery, still with Pingyang as its administrative center. Its jurisdiction included the Fen River basin south of Huoxian County, Shanxi, and the areas to its west. It was part of the Sizhou region and governed ten counties. During the Western Jin Dynasty, it continued to be called Pingyang Commandery and governed twelve counties. In the 3rd year of the Yongjia era (309 CE), the Xiongnu leader Liu Yuan moved his capital to Pingyang from Puzi City (Xixian County) and declared himself emperor, bringing the region under his rule.
  2. The current Zoucheng City, Shandong Province. Zoucheng was historically known as Pingyang during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods and is considered the birthplace of Confucianism in China. During the Xia Dynasty, it belonged to the Zhou region of Xuzhou. The “Zhou County” was established during the Qin Dynasty and was renamed “Zou County” during the Han, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, continuing until its abolition in October 1992 when it became Zoucheng City.

Origins of the Jing Family Name#

The Jing family name originates from:

1. The Ji surname, stemming from Jing Hou, a high-ranking official of the Zhou royal family during the Spring and Autumn period, who adopted his ancestor's name as his surname.
2. The Ji surname, also stemming from Gongshuduan, the younger son of Duke Wu of Zheng, who changed his surname due to exile.
3. The Ying surname, originating from Jing Fang, a master of Yi studies during the Han Dynasty, who changed his surname due to exile.
4. The Mi surname, originating from Liu She, a relative of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who adopted his ancestor's name as his surname.
5. The Ewenki ethnic group, who adopted a Han Chinese surname.

Ancestors of the Jing Family Name:

• Jing Hou, Ji Shuduan (Gongshuduan), Li Jingfang, Liu Jingsun.

Migration and Distribution

The Jing family is an ancient one with multiple ethnic origins and lineage branches. Its population has never ranked among the top 300 in the “Hundred Family Names” in mainland China or Taiwan Province. In the Song Dynasty version of the “Hundred Family Names,” it was ranked 169th.

According to “Shixing Kaolue,” the Jing family's origin can be traced back to Pingyang; “Junwang Baijiaxing” states its origin to Xingyang Commandery. Pingyang was formed by dividing a part of Hedong Commandery during the Three Kingdoms period, corresponding to the area around present-day Linfen, Shanxi. Xingyang was established by dividing a part of Henan Commandery during the same period, corresponding to the area around present-day Zhengzhou, Henan. These two places were the main birthplaces of the Jing family, and they remained there for a long time. After the Song Dynasty, due to the relocation of the Song royal family to the south and wars, the Jing family began to migrate to regions such as Zhejiang and Jiangsu, eventually spreading throughout China. Although the number of Jing family members is not large, they are widely distributed, with populations in Sichuan, Chongqing in the west, Inner Mongolia in the north, Heilongjiang and Liaoning in the northeast, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, and Shandong in the east, and provinces in the central region such as Hebei, Henan, and Anhui in the south. The Jing family name is not currently among the top 300 in the country.

Hall Names (Tanghao):

• Xingyang Hall: Named after the place of origin.
• Pingyang Hall: Named after the place of origin.
• Ciyuan Hall: During the Ming Dynasty, a man named Jing Jing was respected for his morality and knowledge and was the oldest person in the community. Emperor Taizu of Ming invited him to dinner and encouraged him to teach his descendants to be filial to their fathers, respect their elders, be kind to their brothers, work diligently, and be frugal with expenses.

Generational Names:

• For the Jing family in Baoying and Jiangdu, Jiangsu: “Zhongxiao Shounian Kuanren Shouzheng.”
• For the Jing family in Quanzhou, Guangxi: “Cai Cheng Ji Ben Xiaoyou.”

Notable People with the Jing Family Name:

• Jing Hengyi: From Shangyu, Zhejiang, nephew of Jing Yuanshan. He was an educator, social activist, and epigrapher. He founded Chunhui Middle School and was involved in the national revolution. He was a senior member of the Kuomintang's left wing and authored “Jing Yiyuan Jinshi Shishu Huiji” (Collection of Jing Hengyi's Epigraphic Poetry, Calligraphy, and Paintings).