The Ju Family#

Surname: Ju, pronounced as “jū”

Regions Where the Ju Surname Is Found#

Runan Commandery: Established during the reign of Emperor Gao of the Han Dynasty, its administrative center was Shangcai (around present-day Shangcai County, Henan Province). This region corresponds to the central and southern parts of Henan Province and the area north of the Huai River in Anhui Province.

Origins of the Ju Surname#

There are two theories regarding the origin of the Ju surname:

1. The Ju surname originates from the Ji lineage, descendants of the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor had a descendant named Qi (also known as Hou Ji), who was the founder of the Zhou Dynasty. Qi’s son, Bu?, had a son named Tutao. Tutao’s palm patterns at birth resembled the ancient character for “ju,” which is how he was named. Tutao later became a leader of the Zhou people, and his descendants adopted his name as their surname.

2. Another theory suggests that the surname simply came from a person’s given name. Among Tutao’s descendants was a man named Ju Wu, who served as a high-ranking official in the State of Yan. His descendants also took his name as their surname.

Ancestor of the Ju Surname

According to historical records such as “Yuanhe Xing Zuan” and “Mingxian Shizhu Leigao,” the ancestor of the Ju surname was Tutao. Tutao’s grandson, who was the grandson of Hou Ji, was named Tutao because the patterns on the palms of his hands at birth resembled the ancient character for “ju.” Tutao later became a leader of the Zhou people, and his descendants adopted this name as their surname. Therefore, Tutao is revered as the ancestor of the Ju family.

Distribution of the Ju Surname

The Ju surname is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. It originates from the Ji lineage. In ancient times, a descendant of the Zhou Dynasty’s founder, Qi, was named Tutao. His palm patterns at birth resembled the character for “ju,” leading to his name. Tutao later became a leader of the Zhou people, and his descendants adopted this surname. During the Warring States period, a descendant of Ju Wu from the State of Yan also adopted the surname Ju.

Evolution of the Surname

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, some Ju family members changed their surname to avoid persecution. For example, some changed it to “Mou.” The prominent Ju family clan was based in Runan Commandery (present-day Runan County, Henan Province).

Hall Names

Qinghe Hall: Ju Chang was a scholar who passed the imperial examinations during the Five Dynasties period in the Southern Han Dynasty. During the Kaibao era of the Song Dynasty, when Zhao Pu was the prime minister, Ju Chang was promoted to the position of “Zuo Zhu Lang” and later became the magistrate of Qinghe.

Common Couplets for Ju Family Ancestral Temples

Four-Character Couplets for Ju Family Ancestral Temples#

• Sincerity never falles; integrity and courage to speak out are valued. (This couplet refers to Ju Si Fu of the Song Dynasty, who was captured by Fang La but spared due to his benevolent governance during the Xuanhe era.)
• *The Ju lineage branched out from Shanyang; a great tutor emerged from the family. (This couplet refers to Ju Wu, who served as a tutor for the crown prince of Yan and recommended Jing Ke to the prince.)

Seven-Character Couplets for Ju Family Ancestral Temples#

• *A noble scholar from Wending during the Ming Dynasty; a leading dancer in the Song Dynasty. (This couplet refers to Ju Yue from Wending, who was captured by the enemy alongside his wife. He refused to comply and was killed; his wife died by hitting a rock, and he was posthumously honored with the title “Shuang Jie.”)
• *The revolutionary spirit never fades; the character of the chrysanthemum remains noble. (This couplet emphasizes the enduring values of the Ju family.)

Couplets with the Character “Ju” Incorporated#

• *The land of Gaomi is spiritually rich; serving as an official and promoting water management, the people worshipped him through the ages. (This couplet refers to Ju Chang and Ju Zhongmou, both from Gaomi, who held important government positions.)

The Ju family has a rich historical and cultural heritage, with notable figures throughout Chinese history.