The Ai Clan#

Clan Name: Ai, pronounced as “ài”

Distribution of the Ai Clan#

• Longxi Commandery: Established in the 27th year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin during the Warring States period (280 BCE), named after its location west of the Long Mountains. This area corresponds to the region east of Dongxiang and Longxi in present-day Gansu Province. The administrative center was Didao, located south of present-day Lintao County, Gansu.
• Henan Commandery: Established in the 2nd year of Emperor Gao of Han (205 BCE), with its administrative center in Luoyang (northeast of present-day Luoyang City, Henan Province).
• Tianshui Commandery: Established in the 3rd year of the Yuanding era of the Western Han Dynasty (114 BCE), covering the area of present-day Tianshui and Longxi in Gansu Province. The administrative center was Pingxiang (northwest of present-day Tongwei County, Gansu). In the 17th year of the Yongping era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (74 CE), it was renamed Hanyang Commandery. During the Three Kingdoms period, it was again renamed Tianshui Commandery.

Origin of the Ai Clan#

There are four theories regarding the origin of the “Ai” surname:

1. Descendants of the Xia royal family: The Ai surname originates from a descendant of Yu the Great, who adopted the name of his ancestor as his own surname. During the Xia dynasty, a minister named Ru Ai (also written as Nu Ai) lived in the area; his descendants adopted the first character of his name as their surname. It is commonly believed that Ru Ai is the progenitor of the Ai clan. According to the “Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue,” the Ai clan is a descendant of Ru Ai, a minister of Xia Shaokang.
2. Descendants of Kong Ai from the Spring and Autumn period: During this time, a minister named Kong from the state of Qi lived in Ailing (southeast of present-day Tai'an, Shandong Province), and people called him Kong Ai. His descendants adopted the first character of his name as their surname. Therefore, the “Tongzhi·Shizhu” also states that the Ai clan is a descendant of Kong Ai.
3. Change from a compound surname to a single surname: During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Xianbei tribe had a compound surname, Aijin. After moving to the Central Plains, they gradually integrated with Han culture and changed their surname to the single character “Ai.”
4. The Hui ethnic group: Some members of the Hui ethnic group have the Ai surname, which often comes from the first character of a given name. For example, during the Qing dynasty, a Hui person named Aibubak adopted the surname Ai.

Progenitor of the Clan: According to the “Xingshi Kaolue,” the Ai clan is a descendant of Ru Ai, a minister of Xia Shaokang. Prominent branches of the clan are found in Tianshui, Longxi, and Runan. However, there was also a member of the Tian Qi family named Aizi, who was granted a fief at Aishan and also bore the Ai surname. The Ai clan can be traced back more than 4,000 years to the time of Xia Shaokang’s revival of the Xia dynasty. Among the ministers who helped Shaokang, there was a man named Ru Ai, who became the progenitor of the Ai clan. Additionally, according to the “Mingxian Shizhu Yanxing Leigao,” the Ai clan is a descendant of Kong Ai, a minister from the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period. Another theory, based on the “Weishu·Guanshi Zhi,” suggests that the Ai clan is a descendant of Kong Ai, a minister mentioned in the “Yanzi Chunqiu,” with prominent branches in Longxi, Henan, and Tianshui. The Ai clan’s prestige can be seen in their residence in Tianshui Commandery (southwest of present-day Tongwei County, Gansu).

Distribution and Migration: The Ai surname does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. The earliest recorded instance of the Ai surname dates back to Ru Ai, a minister of the ancient Western Xia dynasty. Another branch of the clan originated during the Spring and Autumn period from a minister named Tian Kong from the state of Qi, who was granted a fief at Aishan and also bore the Ai surname. During the Northern Wei dynasty, some members of the Xianbei tribe with the compound surname Aijin changed it to the single character “Ai.”

Hall Names: A common hall name for the Ai clan is “Aimin Tang” (Hearing the People’s Hearts), reflecting the clan’s emphasis on caring for the people and disapproving of corrupt officials.

Common Couplets for Ai Clan Ancestral Halls:

• Five-character couplet: “The nouveau riche mansion of the Ai clan; the enduring legacy of Tianshui.” This couplet refers to the prominent lineage of the Ai clan in Tianshui.
• Six-character couplet: “The noble relatives ceased their disputes; the common people lived in peace.” This couplet highlights how the Ai clan helped resolve land disputes between nobles and commoners during the Ming dynasty.
• Seven-character couplet: “The merits of Qiande era were recognized with imperial rewards.” This couplet celebrates the achievements of the Ai clan during the Song dynasty, with one member, Ai Yu, passing the imperial examinations and receiving imperial recognition.

Anecdotes about the Ai Clan:

• “Not Knowing What Poetry Is”: A man named Aizi enjoyed writing poetry. One day, while traveling between the states of Qi and Wei, he stayed at a inn. At night, he heard someone in the next room reciting poems. Confused and