The Fei Clan#

Surname: Fei, pronunciation: fèi

Distribution of the Fei Clan#

• Jiangxia Commandery: Established during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty, its administrative center was in Anlu (present-day Yunmeng, Hubei). At that time, its jurisdiction included areas of present-day Anlu City, Zhongxiang County, Qianjiang City, and the eastern part of Gaoyang County in Hubei Province, as well as parts of Guangshan County and Xin County in Henan Province, the eastern part of Xinyang City, and the southern part of the Huai River.
• Langya Commandery: Also known as Langya State or Langya Commandery. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the state of Qi had a settlement named Langya, located northwest of Langya Terrace in present-day Jiaoxian, Shandong. After the Qin Dynasty unified the six states, Langya Commandery was established within its territory, along with Langya County, with the administrative center in Langya (present-day Xiahe). The jurisdiction of the commandery covered the southeastern part of the Shandong Peninsula. During the Western Han Dynasty, the administrative center was moved to Dongwu (present-day Zhucheng, Shandong), and the states of Langya, Guixian, and Zhuzhi were added to its jurisdiction, comprising fifty-one counties, including areas such as Haiyang, Jimo, Laoshan, Jiaoxian, Jiaonan, Yishui, Yingnan, Rizhao, Wulian, Ganyu (present-day Ganyu, Jiangsu), and Qingdao in the southeastern part of the Shandong Peninsula. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the capital of Langya State was moved to Kaiyang (present-day Linyi, Shandong). During the Jin Dynasty, it was reorganized into Langya Province. In the Northern Wei Dynasty, the administrative center was in Jiqiu (present-day Linyi, Shandong). The Langya County was re-established during the Sui Dynasty. It was abolished again during the Tang Dynasty, and its territory was incorporated into Jiaozhou and Zhucheng; at that time, its jurisdiction covered areas of present-day Zhucheng, Linyi, and Jiaonan in Shandong Province. In the early years of the Qianyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, it was temporarily abolished, only to reappear as Langya Commandery of Yizhou later on. Since the Langya State during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, both the Langya Terrace and the Langya Commandery of the Qin Dynasty were not part of the actual Langya Commandery. Another Langya Commandery existed in the area around present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu, but it was abolished more than a thousand years later.

Origins of the Fei Surname#

1. Some branches of the Fei surname originate from the "Si" surname, descendants of Yu the Great of the Xia Dynasty.
2. Other branches stem from the "Ji" surname, with the family name derived from the name of a specific town or region. According to "Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue," during the Spring and Autumn Period, a grandson of Duke Yi of Lu was enfeoffed in the town of Fei (present-day Fei County, Shandong), and from then on, the family name was derived from the name of that town.
3. Some branches of the Fei surname resulted from the conversion of Xianbei ethnic surnames. According to "Weishu·Guanshi Zhi," during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there was a Xianbei surname called "Feilian" (the surname of the brother of Emperor Xian of Wei). After they migrated south to Luoyang with Emperor Xiaowen of Wei, they adopted the Han surname "Fei."

Famous People with the Fei Surname#

• Fei Zhong: (Birth and death years unknown), a prominent minister of the Shang Dynasty. When King Zhou of Shang imprisoned King Zhou of Zhou (Ji Chang), Fei Zhong helped release him by delivering beautiful women, rare objects, and fine horses.
• Fei Zhu: (Birth and death years unknown), from Chengdu, Sichuan, was the governor of Chongqing Prefecture during the Yuan Dynasty and a historian. He authored several works, including "Minzu Pu," "Qiwu Pu," "Chubì Pu," "Suihua Jili Pu," and "Chengdu Zhi."
• Fei Jie: (Birth and death years unknown), with the courtesy name Shiyian, from Shaoxing, Zhejiang, was a renowned physician during the Ming Dynasty. He wrote works such as "Mingyi Chao" and "Jingyan Liangfang."
• Fei Hong: (1468–1535), with the courtesy name Zichong and the pseudonyms Jianzhai and Ehu. From Yanshan, Jiangxi, he was the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty and the youngest top scholar (zhuangyuan) in ancient China. He authored "Ehu Zhagao" (20 volumes) as well as several other collections, including "Hudong Ji," "Chenzhang Jilu," "Yide Lu," and "Cang'ue Lu." Additionally, seven volumes of his works, titled "Fei Wenxian Jiyao," are preserved in the "Siku Quanshu."
• Fei Xiran: (Birth and death years unknown), with the courtesy name Shijing, from Nanhai, was a famous teacher at Lianxi Academy during the Ming Dynasty. He wrote works such as "Guwén Xiaojing Jie," "Shangshu Benzhi," and "Yushan Gao."
• Fei Mi: (Birth and death years unknown), with the courtesy name Cudu, from Xinfan, Sichuan, was a renowned scholar and poet during the Qing Dynasty. He authored works such as "Lufeng," "Hongdao Shu," "Yanfeng Shichao," "Gujin Dulan," and "Zhongzhi Dinglu."