Ji_(surname_姞)
Jí (ancient surname)
Chinese family name
Jí is the Mandarin pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname written 姞 in Chinese character. It is romanized as Chi in Wade–Giles, and Gat in Cantonese.[1] One of the Eight Great Surnames of Chinese Antiquity, Ji 姞 is an uncommon surname today. It is not listed in the Song dynasty classic text Hundred Family Surnames.[2]
The Ji clan is said to have descended from the Yellow Emperor. Bo Tiao (伯儵), a leader of the clan, was enfeoffed at Southern Yan (南燕, in modern Weihui, Henan). His descendants later dropped the 女 radical from their surname, which became Ji 吉, which is now the 195th most common surname in China.[3][4]
Besides Southern Yan, branches of the Ji 姞 clan also established the minor states of Mixu (密须) and Bi (偪) during the Zhou dynasty.[5]