Ji Surname

Surname Overview

Relation to Yi and Si Surnames

In ancient usage, “己” and “巳” were interchangeable, and “巳” and “姒” shared the same written form; the text therefore identifies the Ji surname with the Si (巳/姒) surname.

Reference: 上古姓氏：己姓、姒姓和顾氏的关系 - 简书

Origins

Ji Among Huangdi’s Descendants

The Guoyu records that among the twenty-five lineages of Huangdi’s sons, fourteen received surnames comprising twelve surnames, including Ji; Qingyang and Yigu shared the Ji surname.

Reference: 上古姓氏：己姓、姒姓和顾氏的关系 - 简书

The Ji State and Gaoyang’s Descendants

The Jun Guo Zhi records that the Ji state descended from Gaoyang and was in Nanjun County, with the surname derived from the state; the text also identifies Xiū Jǐ and the Youxin tribal group with the Ji surname.

Reference: 上古姓氏：己姓、姒姓和顾氏的关系 - 简书

The Ji Branch of Kunwu

In the ancient Yu and Xia periods, Kunwu (the Kunwu state) is recorded as a Ji-surname tribal group descended from Shaohao; after Shaohao declined, Kunwu became one of Zhurong’s eight surname groups.

Reference: 上古姓氏：己姓、姒姓和顾氏的关系 - 简书

Historical Records

Ji-Surname Kunwu and Gu in Classical Texts

The Guoyu records “Ji-surname Kunwu and Gu”; the Classic of Poetry also records, “Wei and Gu were attacked; Kunwu and Xia Jie.”

Reference: 上古姓氏：己姓、姒姓和顾氏的关系 - 简书

Notable People

Kunwu and Lord Gu

Kunwu, personal name Fan, is recorded as a Ji-surname figure of the Kunwu state in the Xia dynasty; after Kunwu moved to Diqiu, it became known as the state of Gu, and Lord Gu is recorded as the founding ancestor of the Gu surname.

Reference: 上古姓氏：己姓、姒姓和顾氏的关系 - 简书