The Wei Clan#

Surname: Wei, pronounced as “wèi”

Distribution of the Wei Clan#

Langya Commandery: Established during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. This corresponds to the areas of present-day Zhucheng, Linyi, and Jiaonan in southeastern Shandong Province.

Origin of the Wei Clan#

The surname “Wei” has two origins:

1. It originates from the Ji surname, with the clan name being derived from the name of a particular town. During the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Zhou Dynasty, a prince from the State of Zheng was granted the fief of Weiyi (located around present-day Pingyao and Lingqiu counties in Shanxi Province), and his descendants adopted the name of the fief as their surname.
2. It also originates from the name of a place. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Emperor Xuan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty established the state of Weizhou (around present-day Yu County in Hebei Province), and some people from Weizhou adopted “Wei” as their surname.

Founder of the Clan

The founder of the Wei clan is Prince Pian. According to the “Shixing Kaolue,” the clan name was derived from the town of Weizhou, which was part of the State of Dai. During the Zhou Dynasty, Prince Pian was granted this fief, and his descendants adopted the name of the town as their surname. Weizhou is located in present-day Yu County, Hebei Province. Before the Han Dynasty, this area belonged to the State of Dai; it was later made into the Weizhou commandery during the Han Dynasty and officially established during the Northern Zhou Dynasty of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. During the Qing Dynasty, the commandery was converted into a county and became part of the Xuanhua Prefecture under the Zhili Province, and its name was officially fixed as Yu County, which remains unchanged to this day. The fief of Prince Pian from the State of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period was in Weizhou, and his descendants adopted the name of the fief as their surname. The prominent members of the Wei clan lived in the Langya Commandery (present-day Zhucheng County, Shandong Province).

Migration and Distribution

The Wei clan is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. The Wei clan originated from the ancient state of Weizhou (around present-day Yu County, Hebei Province), where people adopted the name of the place as their surname. Another branch of the Wei clan also originated from Weizhou; it is said that a small state called Dai established its capital there, and the local residents adopted the name of the place as their surname. During the Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Xuan of the Zhou Dynasty granted the fief of Weiyi to Prince Pian from the State of Zheng, and his descendants adopted the name of the fief as their surname. The Wei clan mainly thrived in the northern regions. For example, in the early Song Dynasty, the famous generals Wei Xing and Wei Zhaomin were from Xiangfu (present-day Kaifeng, Henan Province). The prominent members of the Wei clan lived in the Langya Commandery (present-day Zhucheng County, Shandong Province).

Hall Names

Qingshen Hall: During the Ming Dynasty, Wei Neng served as the Minister of the Imperial Household and later rose to the position of Vice Minister of Rites, continuing to oversee the affairs of the Imperial Household. He held this position for over 30 years and was known for his integrity, never taking any extra benefits. No other official who served in the Imperial Household was more honest than him. Other common hall names for the Wei clan include “Langya Hall.”

Common Couplets for Wei Clan Ancestral Temples

[[Common Four-Character Couplets for Wei Clan Ancestral Temples]]

“Produce eight proposals for the times; Commandeer the three passes with might.” – Anonymous The upper couplet refers to Wei Chun from Hefei during the Ming Dynasty, whose courtesy name was Jingyuan. He was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Hongzhi period and served as an official responsible for reviewing government affairs. He submitted proposals on eight current political issues and seven border-related matters, many of which were adopted. Later, he served in Guangxi but resigned due to his straightforwardness and being disliked by others.

“Hold a high rank of eightfold honor; Commandeer the three passes with might.” – Anonymous The lower couplet refers to Wei Zhaomin from Xiangfu during the Northern Song Dynasty, whose courtesy name was Zhongming. He was appointed to serve in the court of Emperor Zhenzong and held various military positions, including Commander of the Chongyi Forces and Military Governor of Jibei. He defeated the Liao army and successfully defended the Gaoyang Pass on multiple occasions. He also served as the Military Governor of Tangzhou and the Commander of the Baojing Army.

These couplets highlight the historical significance of the Wei clan, emphasizing their contributions to politics and military affairs.