The Xuanyuan Family Name#

Family Name: Xuanyuan, pronounced: xuān yuán

Regions Where the Xuanyuan Family Name Is Found#

The prominent Xuanyuan family clans resided in Shangdang (now Changzhi, Shanxi Province) and Aiyang (now Heyang County, Shaanxi Province).

Origins of the Xuanyuan Family Name#

The origin of the "Xuanyuan" name can be traced to:

1. From the Ji surname: It originates from the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan and is a family name derived from the name of an ancestor. Historical records state that "Xuan" is a surname, and the Yellow Emperor was titled Xuanyuan, which later became the family name.
2. From the Mi surname: It originates from the descendants of the royal family of the Chu state during the late Warring States period, specifically the Xuanyou clan, and simplifies a compound surname.
3. From the Ji surname again: It also originates from Prince Xi of the Zheng state during the Spring and Autumn period. According to historical texts such as "Fengsu Tongyi Yiwén" and "Zuozhuan," Prince Xi, with the courtesy name Zihan, had descendants who adopted the surname "Hanan." In ancient times, the characters "Xuan" and "Hanan" were interchangeable; for example, in "Zuozhuan · Zhao Gongyuan Year," he is referred to as Han Hu, while in "Chunqiu Gongyang Zhuan," he is referred to as Xuан Hu. His descendants preferred the character "Xuan" over "Hanan" as their family name.

Hall Names (Tanghao):

1. Taixia Hall: During the Tang Dynasty, there was a man named Xuanyuan Ji who lived on Mount Luofu. He was over a hundred years old but still looked young. He would sit in a dark room, and his gaze could pierce through several meters. He wrote twelve chapters titled "Taixia." Emperor Wuzong of Tang summoned him to inquire about the secrets of longevity. Xuanyuan Ji replied, "Avoiding sensual pleasures, being indifferent to rich food, maintaining a balanced state of sorrow and joy, and showing virtue impartially—these are the reasons why Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang lived long."

Famous People with the Xuanyuan Family Name#

• The Yellow Emperor: It is said that the Yellow Emperor's original surname was Gongsun, but he changed it to Ji after being born by the Ji River. He fought against Chi You on the plains of Zhuolu and defeated him. He also defeated the Yan Emperor at Banquan and was revered by the feudal lords as the Son of Heaven, succeeding the Shennong clan. Because he possessed the virtue associated with the earth (which is yellow in color), he was titled the Yellow Emperor.
• Xuanyuan Miming: A poet from the Tang Dynasty known for his powerful and impactful verses.
• Xuanyuan Ke: Born in August 1926, with the courtesy name Minyi, he graduated from Henan University. He worked as a senior editor at the Central Institute of Educational Sciences and the deputy editor-in-chief of the Educational Sciences Publishing House. He authored works such as "Compendium of Chinese Educational Thought," "A History of Chinese Educational Thought," chapters on the educational thoughts of Gong Zizhen and Wei Yuan, and chapters on Deng Xiaoping's educational thoughts in "The Soul of Chinese Education." He published numerous papers on educational theories, including "Gu Yanwu's Ideas on Social Education" and "Yan Yuan's Ideas on Social Education," as well as several papers on ancient literary theories, such as "Psychological Explorations of the Wenxin Diaolong" and "Miscellaneous Discussions on Wenxin Diaolong." He also served as the responsible editor and final reviewer for award-winning academic works such as "Educational Thought during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods," "The Southern Song Dynasty's Achievements and Their Educational Thought," "Education from the Opium War to the May Fourth Movement," and "Basic Psychology."