Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 05-07-12 16:37
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中國姓氏故事 - 余姓
肚飽不知肚餓人,---Du4 bao3 bu4 zhi du4 e4 ren2,
好命不知鄙命人.---Hao3 ming4 bu4 zhi bi3 ming4 ren2.
A man, whose stomach is always full, does not know the hungry people,
He, who has a good life, does not know the humble people
A Chinese proverb
............................................................
Surname Yu (余姓)
Yu means: remainder; extra; surplus.
The surname Yu is about 2,600 years old.
The surname Yu originated in an area referred to during the Han Dynasty
(漢朝 206BC to 220AD) as the Xiapei prefecture (下邳郡). The present day
location of Xiapei prefecture in the Pei Xian (邳縣 118.0 degree East and
34.3 degree North on the world map) in Jiangsu province (江蘇省).
In 1115BC, Ji Song (姬誦) was installed as Zhou King Cheng (周成王), the
second King of the Zhou Dynasty (周朝 1134BC to 256BC), who reigned until
1079BC. Zhou King Cheng delegated his younger brother Shu Yu (叔虞) to rule
the State recently conquered rebellious State of Tang (唐國 present day
Yi Cheng county 翼城縣 in Shanxi province 山西省). Zhou King Cheng bestowed
upon Shu Yu the heritable title of Hou (侯) or Marquis. Shu Yu was the known
as Tang Shu Yu (唐叔虞) and after him, his eldest son Ji Xie (姬燮) became
the new ruler. Ji Xie renamed the State of Tang to the State of Jin (晉國
), after the Jin Shui (晉水) river that flowed through his domain.
Nine generations after Tang Shu Yu and in 812BC, Ji Fei (姬費) became the
9th ruler of Jin. Ji Fei had two sons; the elder son was called Ji Chou
(姬仇) and the younger son Ji Chengshi (姬成師). Ji Fei died in 782BC and
Ji Chou was installed as the ruler who died in 746BC. Ji Chou's eldest son
Ji Bo (姬伯) became the ruler.
Ji Bo was the ruler of Jin who ruled Jin from 745BC to 738BC. Ji Chengshi
was his uncle and was a very powerful official in the Jin Court. Ji Bo knew
that sooner or later his uncle would kill him and grab the throne for himself.
In order to save his own skin, in 742BC, Ji Bo relinquished the territory
of Quwo (曲沃) district, almost half of the State, to his uncle. He even
awarded his uncle the title of Bo (伯) or Count. Ji Chengshi became the
ruler of Quwo.
In order to show his nephew, Ji Bo, that he was more powerful than him,
Ji Chengshi purposely renamed his new domain as the State of Jin. By doing
so there were two States of Jin in the land. It would be very confusing
for the citizens of the two States. To avoid confusion and to humble himself,
Ji Bo voluntarily changed the name of his State from Jin to Yi (翼). Ji
Bo also changed his official title from Jin Zhao Hou (晉昭侯) to Yi Zhao
Hou (翼昭侯).
Four years later, in 738BC, Pan Fu (潘父), the Premier of Yi murdered Ji
Bo. With the death of the ruler, Pan Fu thought that he had the power to
do what he wanted to do. So Pan Fu planned to merge Yi with Jin. However,
the people of Yi refused and they had Pan Fu killed and elected Ji Ping
(姬平), the younger brother of Ji Bo, as the new ruler of Yi.
In 727BC, the State of Jin attacked Yi and Ji Ping was killed in the battle.
The people of Yi again elected Ji Que (姬卻), a younger brother of Ji Ping
as their new ruler. Immediately Ji Que launched an attack on Jin. However,
the Yi forces were defeated and Ji Que fled to the State of Sui (隨國 present
day Sui Xian 隨縣 in Hubei province 湖北省). Ji Guang (姬光), who was the
son of Ji Que succeeded him as the ruler of Yi.
In 709BC, Ji Guang attacked Yi and he was killed in the battle. A housekeeper
of Ji Guang took Ji You Yu (姬由余), the baby son of Ji Guang, and fled
west and settled down in the State of Qin (秦國 present day Fengxiang county
鳳翔縣 in Shaanxi province 陜西省).
It was during the period of Spring and Autumn (春秋時代 722BC to 481BC),
when Ji You Yu was a middle aged man, that in 659BC, Ying Renhao (嬴任好
) became the 14th ruler of the State Qin. He employed Ji You Yu as his military
adviser. Ji You Yu helped Ying Renhao in conquering a large territory in
the region east of Wei (渭) Valley.
In 641BC, the State of Qin conquered and annexed the State of Liang (梁國
). The following year Qin conquered the State of Rui (芮國) and in 627BC,
it conquered the State of Hua (滑國). In total Qin had conquered and annexed
12 States and became the hegemonic State in the west.
Ying Renhao died in 620BC and Ji You Yu resigned from his job and retired.
The offspring of Ji You Yu adopted Yu (余) as their surname in remembrance
of him.
The couplet of surname Yu
源自周代,---Yuan zi Zhou Period,
望出下邳.---Wang chu Buxia.
Surname began during the Zhou Dynasty,
And it was originated from Buxia Prefeture.
...........................................................
Prominent persons produced by the Yu Clan
(1) Yu Jing (余靖 1000AD to 1064AD)
Yu Jing was born in Shaozhou Qu jiang (韶州曲江 present day Shaoguan Qujiang
county 韶關曲江縣 in Guangdong province 廣東省) during the Song Dynasty
(宋朝 618AD to 907AD). During the reign of Emperor Ren Zong Zhao Zhen (仁
宗皇帝趙禎 1023AD he sat for the Palace Examination and passed with a First
Graduate and became a Jin Shi (進士 or Palace Graduate). He was appointed
as a high official in the Department of Works. Since he was fluent in Khitan
(契丹) language he was appointed as the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Liao
(遼國 915AD to 1125AD in present day Outer Mongolia and northern part of
Shanxi province 山西省) for three times. He was considered by the people
as one of the eight wise men in the present day province of Guangdong. He
was the author of the book titled "武溪集 Wu Xi Ji".
..........................................................
(2) Yu Xiao Xia (余小霞)
Yu Xiao Xia was a friend of Liang Zhang Ju (梁章鉅 1775AD to 1849AD), the
Governor of the two provinces of Jiangsu (江蘇省) and Jiangxi (江西省).
Governor Liang Zhang Ju presented to Yu Xiao Xia a poem,
勸子勿為官所腐,---Quan4 zi3 wu4 wei2 guan suo3 fu3,
知君欲以詩相磨.---Zhi jun yu4 yi3 shi xiang mo4.
Please do not be corrupted as being a high ranking official
I know you are a gentleman who loves poetry.
...................................................................
(3) Yu Huang (余煌 ? to 1646AD)
Yu Huang was born in the county of Hui Ji (會稽) in Zhejiang province (浙
江省) during the Ming Dynasty (明朝 1368AD to 1644AD). During the reign
of Emperor Xi Zong Zhu You Xiao (熹宗皇帝朱由校 1621AD to 1627AD) he sat
for the Palace Examination and obtained No.1 in the First Graduate and became
a Zhuang Yuan (狀元). He was appointed as an official in the armed forces.
In 1644AD the Manzhou (滿洲) from the northeast occupied the whole of northern
China and established the Qing Dynasty (清朝 1644AD to 1911AD). Emperor
Yi Zong Zhu You Jian (毅宗皇帝朱由檢 1628AD to 1644AD) committed suicide.
Prince Lu Zhu Yi Hai (魯王朱以海) was defending Shao Xing (紹興) in Zhejiang
province. Yu Huang was helping Prince Lu. In 1646 the Manzhou attacked Shao
Xing and occupied it in no time. Prince Lu , Yu Huang and the remnant of
the Ming forces escaped by boats to Zhou Shan Island (舟山島). Yu Huang
was drowned on the way to Zhou Shan Island.
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Note:
Surname YU (余姓) is the 40th most common Chinese surname in the world
Posted to asiawind.com
By CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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