The Yue Family Name#

Family Name: Yue, Pronunciation: yuè

Distribution of the Yue Family Name#

Jinyang County: During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it was known as Jinyang Yi; in the Qin and Han dynasties, it became Jinyang County and was the administrative center of Taiyuan County. It is located in present-day Jinyuan Town, southwest of Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province.

Origin of the Yue Family Name#

The Yue family name has three possible origins:

1. It originates from the Si surname, descending from the great hero Yu the Great. Yu the Great was awarded the state name as his family name for his contributions to water control. After Yu's death, his son Qi inherited the throne without going through the traditional selection process by the “Four Peaks,” establishing the earliest slave-owning state in Chinese history, the Xia Dynasty. During the Xia Dynasty, after five generations, King Shaokang granted his illegitimate son Wuyu the fief of Kuaiji to manage the sacrifices for Yu. Wuyu's descendants founded the Yue State. When the Yue State was conquered by the Chu State during the Spring and Autumn period, some of the royal descendants adopted the name of their former state as their family name.

2. It comes from the descendants of King Goujian of Yue, also using the state name as their family name.

3. It originated from the Northern Xianbei tribes, specifically the Yuele and Yuezhijie clans, who changed their names to Yue after moving to the Central Plains during the Northern Wei Dynasty under Emperor Xiaowen.

Ancestor of the Family Name

Yu the Great is considered the ancestor of the Yue family name. According to the "Guoyu·Jia Kui Zhù," the Yue family name also traces back to the Kuai and Hua surnames, with descendants of Emperor Shaokang of the Xia Dynasty who were granted the fief of Kuaiji and adopted the name of their state as their family name. Therefore, modern Chinese with the Yue surname are descendants of the royal family of the Yue State from the Spring and Autumn period, with their ancestor being the holy ruler Yu the Great, who lived approximately 4,200 years ago.

The history of the Yue State is long and rich. The territory of the ancient Yue State was located in what is now Hangzhou County, Zhejiang Province, along the coast of the East Sea. The capital of the state was Kuaiji, which is now Shaoxing, Zhejiang. This branch of the family has flourished in Zhejiang for over two thousand years, surviving through the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Around the end of the Spring and Autumn period, 2,000 years ago, the Yue State was conquered by King Fuchai of Wu. King Goujian of Yue later reclaimed his state through perseverance and expansion. After conquering Wu, Goujian became a dominant ruler, expanding the territory of the Yue State to include parts of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces as well as southern Shandong Province. The prominent clans of the Yue family resided in Jinyang County, near present-day Taiyuan, Shanxi.

Distribution of the Family Name

The Yue family name does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. According to the "Wanxing Tongpu," there are three branches of the Yue family name: one descending from King Goujian of Yue, another from the Yueqiang clan that changed its name to Yue, and a third from the Yuezhi clan. The Yue family name originated from the Si surname during the Xia Dynasty when King Shaokang granted his illegitimate son Wuyu the fief of Kuaiji.

Hall Names

“Shen Zhi Tang” (Hall of Extended Knowledge): This name symbolizes the idea that one should be open and honest with friends but cautious with strangers. During the Spring and Autumn period, a virtuous man from the State of Qi named Yue Shifu was wronged and imprisoned. When Yan Ying, the prime minister of Qi, encountered Yue Shifu on his way to the State of Jin, he sold one of his horses to redeem him and took him home. After returning home, Yan Ying did not greet Yue Shifu, which surprised Yue Shifu. Yue Shifu said, “Although Yan Ying may not be highly virtuous, he saved me from adversity. Why do you want to leave so quickly?” Yan Ying replied, “A gentleman of high virtue can endure humiliation from strangers, but with a true friend, one should be treated with respect. Since you redeemed me out of understanding, you are my true friend.” Yan Ying then treated Yue Shifu with great respect.

Common Couplets for Yue Family Ancestral Shrines

Four-Character Couplets#

• The family lineage begins with the Yue State; its excellence is celebrated in Jinyang. (Alluding to the family's origins and historical prominence.)
• A prime minister and his guest; poetic talent on horseback. (Referring to Yue Shifu and Yan Ying.)
• The noble Lady Yue of the Yue State; her righteousness left a lasting name. (Referencing the story of Lady Yue during the Spring and Autumn period.)

Five-Character Couplets#

• Lady Yue of the Yue State exhibited noble character; Yue Shifu's righteousness is remembered. (Referencing the story of Yue Shifu during the Spring and Autumn period.)
• The reputation of integrity in the Northern Seas; the achievements of officials in Liangzhou. (Referencing historical figures from the Southern Dynasties.)

Seven-Character and Longer Couplets#

• Uphold integrity and principles; hate evil and uphold goodness (Refering to the conduct of officials during the Ming Dynasty.)
• Enjoying solitude in the mountains; donating wealth to help the poor (Referencing the benevolence of officials during the Ming Dynasty.)

Additional Anecdotes and Stories about the Yue Family

Yue Shifu’s Refusal of Redemption After completing a mission in the State of Jin, Prime Minister Yan Ying passed through Zhongmu in the State of Zhao. He