Change of Xianbei names to Han names
Encyclopedia
The Change of Xianbei
family names to Han names was part of a larger sinicization
campaign. It was at its peak intensity under Emperor Xiaowen
of the Northern Wei
dynasty in 496.
ordered Xianbei family names that were two-to-three syllables to be shortened to one-to-two syllables, converting them to Han names. Later historians, including Wei Shou
, the author of the official history of Northern Wei, Book of Wei
, found shortened Han-style names to be easier to write about, and therefore used post-496 family names even where pre-496 events involving Northern Wei were described. Later, after the division of Northern Wei into two in 534, the paramount general of Western Wei
, Yuwen Tai
, tried to reverse these name changes and restore Xianbei names. A number of generals and officials changed their names back to Xianbei names, but after the destruction of Western Wei's successor state, Northern Zhou
(which was ruled by Yuwen Tai's descendants), the Han names were restored for Han and Xianbei alike. There were some exceptions, for example, the clan of Emperor Wen of Sui
's wife Empress Dugu Qieluo
kept their Xianbei name of Dugu and did not once again change the name into Liu. Yuwen Tai further had Han officials and generals change their names to Xianbei names, although this change was itself rescinded by the regent
Yang Jian
near the end of Northern Zhou.
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
family names to Han names was part of a larger sinicization
Sinicization
Sinicization, Sinicisation or Sinification, is the linguistic assimilation or cultural assimilation of terms and concepts of the language and culture of China...
campaign. It was at its peak intensity under Emperor Xiaowen
Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei
Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei , personal name né Tuoba Hong , later Yuan Hong , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei....
of the Northern Wei
Northern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
dynasty in 496.
Background
To formalize sinification, a number of actions were taken prior to the name changes.- In 493 the capital was moved to LuoyangLuoyangLuoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, closer to the agricultural HanHan ChineseHan Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
and away from the nomadic roots. - In 494 nomadic style clothing were abandoned.
- In 495 nomadic languages at court were abandoned.
Changes
Northern WeiNorthern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
ordered Xianbei family names that were two-to-three syllables to be shortened to one-to-two syllables, converting them to Han names. Later historians, including Wei Shou
Wei Shou
Wei Shou , born in Xingtai, Hebei, was a Chinese author. He wrote the Book of Wei, composed in 554, an important Chinese historical text.-References:*Cao, Daoheng, . Encyclopedia of China, 1st ed....
, the author of the official history of Northern Wei, Book of Wei
Book of Wei
The Book of Wei is a classic Chinese historical writing compiled by Wei Shou from 551 to 554, and serves as an important historical text describing the Northern Wei and Eastern Wei from 386 to 550....
, found shortened Han-style names to be easier to write about, and therefore used post-496 family names even where pre-496 events involving Northern Wei were described. Later, after the division of Northern Wei into two in 534, the paramount general of Western Wei
Western Wei
The Western Wei Dynasty followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 556.After the Xianbei general Yuwen Tai killed the Northern Wei emperor Yuan Xiu, he installed Yuan Baoju as emperor of Western Wei while Yuwen Tai would remain as the virtual ruler...
, Yuwen Tai
Yuwen Tai
Yuwen Tai , nickname Heita , formally Duke Wen of Anding , later further posthumously honored by Northern Zhou initially as Prince Wen then as Emperor Wen with the temple name Taizu , was the paramount general of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Wei, a branch successor state of Northern Wei...
, tried to reverse these name changes and restore Xianbei names. A number of generals and officials changed their names back to Xianbei names, but after the destruction of Western Wei's successor state, Northern Zhou
Northern Zhou
The Northern Zhou Dynasty followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. It was overthrown by the Sui Dynasty.Northern Zhou's basis of power was established by Yuwen Tai, who was paramount general of Western Wei, following the split of Northern Wei into Western Wei and...
(which was ruled by Yuwen Tai's descendants), the Han names were restored for Han and Xianbei alike. There were some exceptions, for example, the clan of Emperor Wen of Sui
Emperor Wen of Sui
Emperor Wen of Sui — personal name Yang Jian , Xianbei name Puliuru Jian , nickname Naluoyan — was the founder and first emperor of China's Sui Dynasty . He was a hard-working administrator and a micromanager. As a Buddhist, he encouraged the spread of Buddhism through the state...
's wife Empress Dugu Qieluo
Empress Dugu Qieluo
Empress Dugu Qieluo , formally Empress Wenxian , was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty...
kept their Xianbei name of Dugu and did not once again change the name into Liu. Yuwen Tai further had Han officials and generals change their names to Xianbei names, although this change was itself rescinded by the regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
Yang Jian
Emperor Wen of Sui
Emperor Wen of Sui — personal name Yang Jian , Xianbei name Puliuru Jian , nickname Naluoyan — was the founder and first emperor of China's Sui Dynasty . He was a hard-working administrator and a micromanager. As a Buddhist, he encouraged the spread of Buddhism through the state...
near the end of Northern Zhou.
Name correspondence
Below is a list of the Xianbei names that are known to have been changed into Han names:- TuobaTuobaTuoba, or Tabgach, were a clan of Xianbei people of ancient China.-Xianbei Tuoba:Tuoba was a clan of the Xianbei people in the early centuries of the 1st millennium AD. They established the State of Dai from 310 to 376 AD, and the Northern Wei Dynasty from 386 to 536 AD...
(拓拔) (imperial clan name) -> Yuan (元) - Gegu (紇骨) -> Hu (胡)
- Pu (普) -> Zhou (周)
- Baba (拔拔) -> Zhangsun (長孫)
- Daxi (達奚) -> Xi (奚)
- Yilou (伊婁) -> Yi (伊)
- Qiudun (丘敦) -> Qiu (丘)
- Xiqihai (係俟亥) -> Hai (亥)
- Yizhan (乙旃) -> Shusun (叔孫)
- Chekun (車焜) -> Che (車)
- Qiumuling (丘穆陵) -> Mu (穆)
- Buliugu (步六孤) -> Lu (陸)
- Helai (賀賴) -> He (賀)
- Dugu (獨孤) -> Liu (劉)
- Helou (賀樓) -> Lou (樓)
- Wuniuyu (勿忸于) -> Yu (于)
- Shilian (是連) -> Lian (連)
- Pulan (僕闌) -> Pu (僕)
- Ruogan (若干) -> Gou (苟)
- Balielan (拔列蘭) -> Liang (梁)
- Bolue (撥略) -> Su (蘇)
- Ruokouyin (若口引) -> Kou (寇)
- Chiluo (叱羅) -> Luo (羅)
- Pulouru (普陋茹) -> Ru (茹)
- Hege (賀葛) -> Ge (葛)
- Shiben (是賁) -> Feng (封)
- Afugan (阿扶干) -> A (阿)
- Kediyan (可地延) -> Yan (延)
- Aluhuan (阿鹿桓) -> Lu (鹿)
- Taluoba (他駱拔) -> Luo (駱)
- Boxi (薄奚) -> Bo (薄)
- Wuwan (烏丸) -> Huan (桓)
- Suhe (素和) -> He (和)
- Hugukouyin (胡古口引) or Gukouyin (古口引) -> Hou (侯)
- Yuhun (谷渾) -> Hun (渾)
- Pilou (匹婁) -> Lou (婁)
- Qilifa (俟力伐) -> Bao (鮑)
- Tufulu (吐伏盧) -> Lu (盧)
- Dieyun (牒云) -> Yun (云)
- Shiyun (是云) -> Shi (是)
- Chili (叱利) -> Li (利)
- Fulü (副呂) -> Fu (副)
- Ruluo (如羅) -> Ru (如)
- Qifu (乞扶) -> Fu (扶)
- Kedan (可單 or 渴單) -> Dan (單)
- Qiji (俟幾) -> Ji (幾)
- He'er (賀兒) -> Er (兒)
- Tuxi (吐奚) -> Gu (古)
- Chulian (出連) -> Bi (畢)
- Heba (賀拔) -> He (何)
- Chilü (叱呂) -> Lü (呂)
- Monalou (莫那婁) -> Mo (莫)
- Xidoulu (奚斗盧) -> Suolu (索盧)
- Molu (莫蘆) -> Lu (蘆)
- Budahan (步大汗) -> HanHan (surname)Han is a common transliteration of the Chinese surname 韩 or 韓 , pronounced Hán, and the Korean surname 한 . The spelling "Han" is based on China's pinyin system and so used throughout Mainland China. Spelling can vary from 'Hon' in Cantonese-speaking areas to 'Hang' in Hainan...
(韓Han (surname)Han is a common transliteration of the Chinese surname 韩 or 韓 , pronounced Hán, and the Korean surname 한 . The spelling "Han" is based on China's pinyin system and so used throughout Mainland China. Spelling can vary from 'Hon' in Cantonese-speaking areas to 'Hang' in Hainan...
) - Moluzhen (沒路真) -> Lu (路)
- Hudigan (扈地干) -> Hu (扈)
- Muyu (慕輿) -> Yu (輿)
- Gegan (紇干) -> Gan (干)
- Qifujin (俟伏斤) -> Fu (伏)
- Shilou (是樓) -> Gao (高)
- Qutu (屈突) -> Qu (屈)
- Talu (沓盧) -> Ta (沓)
- Washilan (嗢石蘭) -> Shi (石)
- Jiepi (解枇) -> Jie (解)
- Qijin (奇斤) -> Qi (奇)
- Xubu (須卜) -> Bu (卜)
- Qiulin (丘林) -> Lin (林)
- Damogan (大莫干) -> Ge (郃)
- Ermian (尒綿) -> Mian (綿)
- Gailou (蓋樓) -> Gai (蓋)
- Suli (素黎) -> Li (黎)
- Yidoujuan (壹斗眷) -> Ming (明)
- Chimen (叱門) -> Men (門)
- Suliujin (宿六斤) -> Su (宿)
- Bibi (馝纰) -> Bi (纰)
- Tunan (土難) -> Shan (山)
- Wuyin (屋引) -> Fang (房)
- Shuluogan (樹洛干) -> Shu (樹)
- Yifu (乙弗) -> Yi (乙)
- Maojuan (茂眷) -> Mao (茂)
- Youlian (宥連) -> Yun (雲)
- Gedouling (紇豆陵) -> Dou (竇)
- Houmochen (侯莫陳) -> Chen (陳)
- Kudi (庫狄) -> Di (狄)
- Tailuoji (太洛稽) -> Ji (稽)
- Keba (柯拔) -> Ke (柯)
- Yuchi (尉遲) -> Yu (尉)
- Bulugen (步鹿根) -> Bu (步)
- Poduoluo (破多羅) -> Pan (潘)
- Chigan (叱干) -> Xue (薛)
- Qinu (俟奴) -> Qi (俟)
- Nianchi (輾遲) -> Zhan (展)
- Feilian (費連) -> Fei (費)
- Qilian (其連) -> Qi (綦)
- Qujin (去斤) -> Ai (艾)
- Kehou (渴侯) -> Gou (緱)
- Chilu (叱盧) -> Zhu (祝)
- Heji (和稽) -> Huan (緩)
- Tulai (菟賴) -> Jiu (就)
- Wapen (嗢盆) -> Wen (溫)
- Dabo (達勃) -> Bao (褒)
- Duguhun (獨孤渾) -> Du (杜)
- Helan (賀蘭) -> He (賀)
- Yuyuanzhen (郁原甄) -> Zhen (甄)
- Gexi (紇奚) -> Ji (嵇)
- Yuele (越勒) -> Yue (越)
- Chinu (叱奴) -> Lang (狼)
- Kezhuhun (渴燭渾) -> Zhu (朱)
- Kuruguan (庫褥官) -> Ku (庫)
- Wuluolan (烏洛蘭) -> Lan (蘭)
- Yinalou (一那蔞) -> Lou (蔞)
- Yufu (羽弗) -> Yu (羽)
Major Xianbei names that were not changed
Several major Xianbei clan names were apparently judged by Emperor Xiaowen to be sufficiently Han-like to not to be changed. These included:- Tuyuhun (吐谷渾)
- Heruo (賀若)
- Na (那)
- Yu (庾)
See also
- Hundred family names
- Chinese surnameChinese surnameChinese family names have been historically used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic groups in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and among overseas Chinese communities. In ancient times two types of surnames, family names and clan names , existed.The colloquial expressions laobaixing...
External links
- 鮮卑姓氏一覽Xianbei Surnames 《魏書.官氏志》
- Xianbei Names 鮮卑百家姓(Chinese Big5 code page) via Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...