Wu family

Surname Wu

Wu surname, one of the hundred surnames in China, originated from Henan, Anyang, Shangqiu, Luoyang and other places. It is said that Wuding was the ancestor of Wu surname.

The earliest birthplace of the Wu surname is in Henan Province, where it has been continuously multiplying since then. In the spring and Autumn period, the state of song was the origin of the surname Wu, which lived in Shangqiu, Henan Province. Later, with the passage of time, the activity area of the surname Wu continued to expand. About to the Warring States period, the surname Wu had been widely used in the Central Plains. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the surname Wu was generally distributed in Chenjun, Peixian, liangzou, Xuyi, Chang'an and the eastern part of Henan Province. During the Wei, Jin and southern and Northern Dynasties, the surname Wu moved to the South on a large scale and became a famous family in Anhui, Jiangsu and other provinces. Another branch of the Wu family moved to Shanxi and developed into a big family in Taiyuan, forming the Wu surname "Taiyuan" Prefecture. In the Tang Dynasty, because of the birth of a Wu Zetian, the development of the Wu family in Taiyuan reached a prosperous period. The Wu family was able to reproduce and migrate again in the north, and the clan group continued to expand. In the Song Dynasty, the Wu family had developed all over the country. In the Qing Dynasty, the surname Wu crossed the sea into Taiwan and later moved to Singapore.

The surname Wu ranks the 250th in the Hundred Surnames compiled by Song people. In 2018, the population of surnames Wu ranked 92nd in China, with more than 2.2 million people, especially in Henan and Heilongjiang provinces, which account for 37% of the total population of surnames Wu. Henan is the largest province of Wu surnames, accounting for 19.7% of the total population of Wu surnames.

Historical development

Origin and development

1. It comes from the surname Ji.

It is recorded in Yuanhe surname Zuan by Lin Bao of Tang Dynasty that "the youngest son of King Ping of Zhou was born and had an article in his hand, which was named Wu, so he took it as his surname." That is to say, the youngest son of King Ping of Zhou had a "Wu" shaped pattern on his palm, so he was given the surname of Wu and was a doctor of the Zhou Dynasty. Later, his descendants took Wu as their surname, which was called Wu Zhengzong in history.

2. It comes from the surname of the country.

According to Shiben, Wanxing Tongpu and other materials, Xia minister Wuluo was granted the title of Wuluo state, and later the state died. His descendants took the name of the state as their surname, which was called Wu surname.

3. It comes from Zi's surname.

After Wuding, king of Shang Dynasty, he took his ancestor's name as his surname. According to the stele of Wuban, after Wuding, the king of Shang Dynasty, he took his ancestor's name as his surname. After Duke Wu of the Song Dynasty in the spring and Autumn period, he took his posthumous title as his surname. According to the general meaning of customs, in the spring and Autumn period, Sikong, the son of Duke Dai of the Song Dynasty, was given the posthumous title of "Wu" after his death. His descendants took the posthumous title of his ancestor as their surname, also known as Wu.

4. It comes from the surname of Yi.

According to the general meaning of customs, in the Han Dynasty, there was king liang of Wuqiang, who was granted the land in Wuqiang County, Hebei Province. Later, because of the "Wuqiang" of the land, it was simplified as the Wu family.

5. Other sources.

It comes from Wu'an and Wujiang surnames, which begin with Wu; it comes from other origins; it comes from Mao surname in Tang Dynasty, or it is given Wu surname; it comes from ethnic minorities who have Wu surname or who have changed their surname from Fu surname to Wu surname in Han Dynasty.

Migration communication

The earliest birthplace of the Wu surname is in Henan Province, where it has been continuously multiplying since then. The state of song in the spring and Autumn period was the origin of the surname Wu, so its early activity area should be in Shangqiu, Henan Province. Later, with the passage of time, the increase of the population of the surname Wu, the development of social production, and the change of political situation, the activity area of the surname Wu also continued to expand. About to the Warring States period, the people of the surname Wu had been widely active in the Central Plains.

Anyang in the Shang Dynasty, Luoyang in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and Shangqiu in the spring and Autumn period are the origins of the Wu surname. Therefore, the activity area of the Wu surname in the pre Qin period should be in the areas of Anyang, Luoyang and Shangqiu in Henan Province.

During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Wu surnames were generally distributed in Chen county (now Huaiyang County in Henan Province), Peixian county (now Peixian County in Jiangsu Province), liangzou (now northeast of Zouping County in Shandong Province), Xuyi (now northeast of Xuyi county in Jiangsu Province), Chang'an (now Northwest of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province) and the east of Henan Province.

During the period of Wei, Jin and southern and Northern Dynasties, the surname Wu moved to the South together with the taxi families in the Central Plains, becoming a famous family in Anhui, Jiangsu and other provinces, forming the "peiguo" Prefecture of the surname Wu. Another branch of the Wu family moved to Shanxi and developed into a big family in Taiyuan, forming the Wu surname "Taiyuan" Prefecture.

In the Tang Dynasty, because of the birth of a Wu Zetian, the development of the Wu family in Taiyuan reached a prosperous period. The Wu family was able to reproduce and migrate again in the north, and the clan group continued to expand.

During the Song Dynasty, the Wu family had developed all over the country, and most of them were distributed in Shanxi, Hebei, Hubei, Henan and Hunan.

In the Ming Dynasty, Shanxi, Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi and Jiangsu also had more Wu families. Nowadays, the distribution of WUS in Henan, Hebei, Liaoning and Shanxi is the most intensive.

In the Qing Dynasty, the surname Wu also crossed the sea into Taiwan and later moved to Singapore and other places.

The ancestor of the surname de

It is said that Wuding is the ancestor of the Wu family. Wuding, surnamed Zi and named Zhao, was the 23rd king of Shang Dynasty. According to the research results of Xia Shang Zhou dating project, Wuding was in power from 1250 BC to 1192 BC. Wuding is the son of Wang Xiaoyi of Shang Dynasty. After Wu Ding ascended the throne, he appointed good officials and worked hard to revive the Shang Dynasty. Therefore, Wu Ding became the leader of Zhongxing which was praised by later generations. In the age of Wuding, the Shang Dynasty became a big country with a vast territory. After his death, Zugeng, Wuding's son, succeeded to the throne. Zuji, the elder brother of Zugeng, established a temple for Wuding in order to praise his achievements. He honored Wuding as Emperor Gaozong, and wrote two articles, the day of Emperor Gaozong and the instructions of Emperor Gaozong.

traditional culture

County Hall

The main prefectures of Wu family name are Taiyuan county and Pei county.

Taiyuan County: it was established in the fourth year of emperor Zhuangxiang of the Warring States period (246 BC). It is equivalent to the area to the north of Wutai Mountain and Guancen mountain in Shanxi Province.

Pei County: Han Gaodi changed Sishui County into a county. It is equivalent to the north of Huaihe River in Anhui Province, the east of Feihe River in the west, Xiayi and Yongcheng in Henan Province, Pei and Feng in Jiangsu Province.

The main hall names of Wu's family name are: jixintang and Taiyuan hall.

Salary Hall: salary is selling firewood. In the Song Dynasty, Wu Xingde had a marvelous appearance. His family was very poor and he made a living selling firewood. Later Jin Dynasty Gaozu (Shi Jingtang) guarded Bianmen and went to the countryside. When he saw Xingde selling firewood, he was very surprised at his appearance. Seeing that he was very heavy on firewood, he left him under his tent as a marquis. Later, Xingde was captured by Khitan during the war. He killed Khitan's official and occupied Heyang. Soon, he became the Yin of Heyang and the crown prince of Song Dynasty.

Taiyuan Tang: Taiyuan county was established in the fourth year of emperor Zhuangxiang of the Warring States period (246 BC). It is equivalent to the area to the north of Wutai Mountain and Guancen mountain in Shanxi Province.

Genealogical literature

Wu's genealogy was compiled by Wu Xianshen in the Qing Dynasty, and a volume of woodcut movable type was printed in 1791. Collected in the archives of Chinese genealogy website.

The genealogy of the Wu family in Beijing was compiled by Wu Jichang in the Qing Dynasty, and printed in two volumes of woodcut movable type in the fourth year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1854). Collected in the library of Central University for nationalities.

Cultural relics protection

Couplets of ancestral hall

Name and reputation

Pre Qin and Han Dynasties

Wuding: surnamed Zi, named Zhao, is the 23rd king of Shang Dynasty, the son of King Xiaoyi of Shang Dynasty, and the leader of Zhongxing.

Wu Chen: a native of Chen county (now Huaiyang, Henan Province) in the late Qin Dynasty. He rose up with Chen Sheng and later became the king of Zhao. He disobeyed Chen Sheng's orders and was killed by Li Liang.

Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties

Samurai Yu: Minister of Tang Dynasty, father of Wu Zetian. He became rich by managing timber. He made great contributions to the war with Li Yuan and was awarded an official title. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong, he was granted the title of Duke of Zhou as the father of the queen and was granted the title of king of Taiyuan.

Empress Wu Zetian: the famous empress of Tang Dynasty. She is the only female emperor in Chinese history. She is the queen of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi and the mother of emperor Zhongzong Li Xian and Emperor Ruizong Li Dan. In 690, Wu Zetian founded the Tang Dynasty and reigned for 21 years.

Wu Yuanheng: Minister of Tang Dynasty. Jianzhong Jinshi, official to prime minister. He was assassinated by assassins because of his uprightness.

Wu Chengsi: nephew of Wu Zetian. He was weighted by his shade. Later, Wu Chengsi fought for the crown prince, but he died unhappily.

Wu Sansi: Wu Zetian's nephew was killed in a conspiracy.

Wu Yuanheng: he was born in Goushi County, Henan Province. He was a Jinshi of Jianzhong in the Tang Dynasty. He was an official to the prime minister. The emperor commented that "it's a real prime minister's tool." He was assassinated by assassins because of his uprightness.

Wuzhang: a native of Wenshui (now Fenyang, Shanxi Province), he was a famous general of Shu after five dynasties. He was appointed as a governor of Shannan. He attached great importance to agriculture and contributed to the construction of local irrigation and water conservancy.

Song and Yuan Dynasties

Wu Zongyuan: born in Baibo (now Mengjin), Henan Province, is a famous painter in the Northern Song Dynasty. He learned from Wu Daozi and is good at Buddhism, Taoism, ghosts and gods. He once painted murals for temples, which is known to all.

Wu Yunwu: Song Dynasty high poet, two tribute in the countryside, deliberate poetry, more popular, the author of "Lian Hu Ji".

Wu Yuanzhi (the year of his birth and death is unknown), born in Beiping (today's Beijing) of Jin Dynasty, is a famous scholar in Changjian of Ming Dynasty. He is good at landscape painting and poetry. His works include the painting of Lianfeng Xiaoyin, the painting of fishermen and woodcutters gossiping, and the painting of traveling on the east slope to Chibi.

Wuhan Minister: a dramatist of the Yuan Dynasty. He wrote a lot of zaju. Today, there are 10 kinds of zaju.

Wu Qi: a native of Taigu (now Shanxi Province) in the Yuan Dynasty, he served successively as the Secretary of the central government, the Minister of the Ministry of household affairs, and the governor of Gansu Province. He is the author of Baochao tongkao, etc.

Ming and Qing Dynasties

Wu Zhiwang: famous doctor of Ming Dynasty. His medical skills are unique. He once participated in Wang KENTANG's criterion of syndrome differentiation and treatment, compiled the compendium of Jiyin, and wrote the compendium of Jiyang.

Wu tugong: born in Caoxian County, Shandong Province, he was a Jinshi in 1604 and an official in Taipusi.

Wu Tao: born in Caoxian County of Shandong Province in the early Qing Dynasty, he was a Jinshi of wubangyan in the third year of Shunzhi (1646) of the Qing Dynasty. He was granted an official post to general Zhaowu of Puzhou, Shanxi Province. Later, he was killed by the traitors and entered the martyrs' Temple in the capital city. Qianlong ordered to grant the hereditary enqi Wei.

Wu Yuxiang: founder of Wu Style Taijiquan in Qing Dynasty.

Wu Yi: a famous scholar in Qing Dynasty and a Jinshi of Qianlong. Fan Quan Academy was founded. He is good at studying and revising the inscriptions. He is the author of "textual research on the differences of classics", "the Yizheng of Qun classics", "the records of Jinshi in Yanshi"

Chinese PinYin : Wu Shi