Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-06-12 12:36
The 10th most common Chinese surname WU 吳 (010)
According to Kang Xi (康熙) dictionary Wu means "方言大也" or
"Great" in the local Min (閩) dialect.
The surname Wu is about 2,500 years old.
讀書好, 耕田好, 學好更好.
Du2 shu hao3, geng tian2 hao3, xue2 hao3 geng hao3.
To study is good, to cultivate the land is good,
learning to be good is the best.
創業難, 守業難, 知難不難.
Chuang4 ye4 nan2, shou3 ye2 nan2, zhi nan2 bu4 nan2
To start a business is hard, to maintain an established business is hard,
knowing it is hard is not hard.
By Wu Jingzi (吳敬梓1701AD to 1754AD) the author of the book
"儒林外史" or "The Scholars" in English.
------------------------------------------
The surname Wu originated in an area referred to during the Qin Dynasty
(秦朝 221BC to 207BC) as the Yanling prefecture (延陵郡). The present day
location of Yanling prefecture is in Wujin county (武進縣119.9 degree East
and 31.7 degree North on the world map) of Jiangsu province (江蘇省).
During the Shang Dynasty (商朝 1783BC to 1135BC) the Zhou Clan (周族) lived
in the northern edge of Wei Valley (渭谷), west of the great bend of Huanghe
(黃河) or the Yellow River. In about 1198BC, due to the pillaging by the
barbarians from the north Ji Gugong Danfu (姬古公亶父), the leader of the
Zhou people moved his people to the center of the Wei Valley. He established
his capital at Qishan (岐山present day Qishan city in Shaanxi province 陜
西省).
Ji Gugong Danfu had three sons. The eldest son was called Ji Taibo (姬太
伯), the second one Ji Yuzhong (姬虞仲) and the youngest Ji Jili (姬季厲
). The third son, Ji Jili, had a very clever and intelligent son whose name
was Ji Chang (姬昌) whom Ji Gugong Danfu loved dearly. Ji Gugong Danfu
wanted Ji Chang to become the future leader of the Zhou people. So Ji Gugong
Danfu decided that his third son should succeed him after his death so that
Ji Chang should succeed Ji Jili should after Ji Jili's death. However, the
traditional succession rules of the leadership of the Zhou people (周族)
was from father to the eldest son. In this case Ji Gugong Danfu was not
abiding the rules.
Ji Gugong Danfu died in about 1191BC and his third son, Ji Jili, became
the leader of the Zhou people. Ji Jili's two elder brothers, Ji Taibo and
Ji Yuzhong, were against his leadership. They disputed with him over the
succession of leadership. When Ji Jili wanted to take action against their
recalcitrance they fled to Jing Man (荊蠻 present day Jiang Nan 江南 or
south of the Yangtze River 揚子江) and settled down in a place called Meili
(梅里 present day Wuxi city 無錫市 in Jiangsu province 江蘇省).
There were more than a thousand families in Meili and the residents accepted
Ji Taibo as their leader. Ji Taibo named his new domain Wu (吳) which meant
Great (巨大) in the local dialect. When Ji Taibo died his younger brother
Ji Yuzhong became the new leader because Ji Taibo had no son. Ji Jijian
(姬季簡) the son of Ji Yuzhong succeeded him when he died. Ji Shuda (姬叔
達) succeeded Ji Jijian. When Ji Shuda died his son Ji Zhouzhang (姬周章
) succeeded him.
It was the year of 1122BC and Ji Fa (姬發) had destroyed the Shang Dynasty
(1783BC to 1122BC) and established the Zhou Dynasty (1134BC 256BC).Ji Fa
was installed as Zhou King Wu (周武王). Ji Zhouzhang, the ruler of Wu, was
the cousin brother of Zhou King Wu because they were the great-grand children
of Ji Gugong Danfu. Zhou King Wu bestowed upon Ji Zhouzhang the inheritable
title of Zi (子爵) or the Viscount. Ji Zhouzhang renamed his domain as the
State of Wu (吳國) and its capital remained in Meili.
During the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋時代 ca 722BC to 481BC), the State
of Wu became a very powerful state. It had subjugated and annexed many small
states. The State of Zhoulai (州萊國 present day Fengtai county 鳳台縣
in Anhui province 安徽省 ) was absorbed by the State of Wu in about 529BC.
In 518BC the State of Chao (巢國 present day Chao county 巢縣 in Anhui
province) was conquered by Wu. The State of Xu (徐國 in present day Si county
泗縣 in Anhui province) was also conquered by Wu in 512BC.
There was a powerful tribe living in a region called Zhuji (諸暨 in present
day Zhuji county in Zhejiang province 浙江省). The leader of this tribe
was called Si Goujian (姒勾踐) who claimed that he was the descendant of
Si Wenming (姒文命), the founder of the Xia Dynasty (夏朝 2205BC to 1766BC).
In 497BC Si Goujian renamed his domain the State of Yue (越國) and proclaimed
himself the King of Yue (越王). His actions infuriated its neighbouring
State of Wu (吳國).
The following year, in 496BC, Ji Helu (姬 闔 閭), the ruler of State of
Wu attacked Yue. A battle was fought at Zaili (檇李 in present day Jiaxing
county 嘉興縣 in Zhejiang province). The commander of the Yue Army was Ling
Gufu (靈姑孚). The Wu invasion forces were defeated. Ji Helu was wounded
by a poisonous arrow in the leg in the battle and he died soon after. His
son, Ji Fucha (姬夫差), succeeded him. The new ruler of Wu swore that he
would take revenge on the King of Yue.
Two years later in 494BC Ji Fucha invaded Yue. The forces of Wu overran
Yue and captured the King of Yue, Si Goujian, who was a very cunning and
amicable man. He convinced Ji Fucha not to annex his State but to remain
as a puppet state of Wu. Ji Fucha agreed, but he imprisoned Si Gujian in
the Wu capital, Gusu (姑蘇 in present day Wu county 吳縣 in Jiangsu province.
Previously in about 514BC the Wu shifted their capital from Meili to Gusu).
Si Goujian was made a butler serving Ji Fucha.
After three years in captivity Si Goujian was released and sent back to
his home land. Immediately Si Goujian began to rebuild his State. He trained
himself to be tough and could stand hardship. At night he did not sleep
in the palace but in the shed where firewood was kept. In order to prove
himself that he could stand bitterness, every night, he made a bite of a
pig gall before he went to bed "臥薪嘗膽 (Wo4 Xin Chang2 Dan3)."
In 484BC, Ji Fucha made plans to attack the State of Qi (齊國 present day
Linzi county 臨淄縣 in Shandong province 山東省). Wu Zixu (伍子胥), who
was the advisor of the State of Wu, told Ji Fucha that he should not attack
the State of Qi but the State of Yue which was rebuilding itself and was
secretly making plans to conquer Wu. Wu Zixu also told Ji Fucha that the
State of Yue was like a disease in the heart (心腹之患 Xin Fu Zhi Huan) to
Wu. Wu Zixu further emphasized that if Wu was not going to conquer the State
of Yue, within a few years, Yue would invade Wu. Ji Fucha did not listen
to Wu Zixu.
Wu Zixu had a son in the State of Qi. Wu Zixu sent words to his best friend
by the surname of Bao (鮑) to look after his son when Wu attacked. In order
not to be implicated in the upcoming war Wu Zixu told his son to change
his surname to Wangsun (王孫) so that people in Qi would not know that he
had son living in Qi. Wu Zixu also recalled Wu's envoys who were sent to
Qi. Somehow, Wu Zixu's actions had come to the knowledge of Ji Fucha who
became very angry with Wu Zixu. Ji Fu Cha presented a sword to Wu Zixu and
ordered him to take his life. Before he cut his own throat Wu Zixu sent
words to Ji Fucha saying,
"樹吾墓上以梓﹐令可為器。抉吾眼置之吳東門﹐以觀越之滅吳也
Use the tree, that grows near my grave, to make weapons. Gouge out my eyes
and hang them in the eastern gate of the wall of Wu to see the extermination
of the State Wu by the State of Yue".
After saying this Wu Zixu committed suicide.
Ji Fucha went on to attack the State of Qi. The army of Wu defeated the
armed forces of Qi in the battle fought at Ailing (艾陵 in present day Taian
county 泰安縣 in Shandong province 山東省).
Ji Fucha wanted to wage war on the State of Chu (楚國 present day Jiangling
county 江陵縣 in Hubei province 湖北省) and was busy making preparations.
However, all his Court officials unanimously disagreed with him because
Wu was not strong enough to go to war with Chu and Wu would most certainly
lose the war against Chu. The officials tried to block his plans, but Ji
Fucha was stubborn and insisted on going to war.
Ji Fucha was really serious and decreed that anyone who tried to stop him
would face public execution in the market place.
Ji You (姬友), the crown prince of Wu, was the son of Ji Fucha. Ji You was
also against his father's plan of waging war with the State of Chu. However,
he was afraid of expressing his feeling verbally to his father. He devised
a plan on how to discourage his father.
One day, early in the morning he brought his slingshot and small marbles
and lingered in the garden at the back of the palace. Although his gowns
were wet by the morning dew he did not mind because he wanted to attract
his father's attention. But his father did not come out into the garden.
The next morning, he did the same thing by going to the garden. Again his
father did not venture out into the garden. He tried again the third day.
This time his father saw him in the garden and, curious about You's behaviour,
enquired:
"What are you doing, my son?
Look, your gowns are wet by the morning dew."
Pointing his finger at the treetop, Ji You replied:
"You see father. There is a cicada up there on the treetop. It is sucking
the morning dew and is singing happily. It thinks it is safe. But it does
not know there is a praying mantis behind it. The praying mantis is raising
its two arms ready to strike. The praying mantis thinks it is sure to have
the cicada for breakfast. However, the praying mantis does not know that
a sparrow is behind it. The sparrow is only thinking of the juicy meal the
praying mantis represents. The sparrow does not know that I am aiming at
it with my slingshot, and I am ready to shoot at it. You see, my father.
These insects and the bird are only thinking of the benefits before their
eyes. But they don't know the serious consequences awaiting behind them.
I feel sorry for them."
Actually, there were no insects or bird on the treetop. Ji You purposely
created a fictitious incident of them to warn his father indirectly that
there was always someone who could be better than him (強中還有強中手).
Ji Fucha realized that his son was trying to tell him something. Suddenly
the upcoming action against Chu came to his mind and he said to his son,
"Yes, yes, I know you are right, my son."
Immediately he called off the impending military actions against the State
of Chu.
Ten years later, in 482BC, again, Ji Fucha led his army northward, with
the intention of capturing more territory. His army arrived at Huangchi
(黃池 in present day Fengqiu county 封邱縣 in Henan province 河南省) and
were preparing for battle with the northern States.
Knowing that Ji Fucha and his armed forces were away from their home base
and there were no troops left behind to defend the State, Si Goujian congregated
his rejuvenated armed forces and attacked Wu. His army overran the State
of Wu in no time and captured the Crown Prince of Wu, Ji You (姬友).
On hearing that Wu was invaded by Yue, Ji Fucha, leading his army, rushed
home. After 20 days of forced march they arrived near their own capital,
Gusu. The soldiers of Wu were tired and exhausted after the long march.
Seeing that the Wu forces were weary and exhausted Si Goujian attacked the
fatigued army of Wu who were defeated.
Ji Fucha fled to Yangshan (楊山 in present day Wan Anshan 萬安山 in the
northwest of Wu county in Jiangsu province). He regretted for not listening
to Wu Zixu and being too lenient to this guileful Si Goujian when he was
in captivity. Ji Fucha committed suicide. Si Goujian annexed the State of
Wu as a part of Yue.
The children of Ji Fucha adopted WU (吳) as their surname in remembrance
of their beloved country the State of Wu.
---------------------------------------------
The three renowned historical persons produced by Wu clan are:
(1) Wu Jingzi (吳敬梓1701AD to 1754AD)
His famous couplet is the one as above. He was an author and his most famous
book was called "儒林外史" or "The Scholars" in English. It was a sarcastic
novel criticizing the scholars during the Qing Dynasty (清朝 1644AD to
1912AD). His famous couplet was,
-------------------------------------
(2) Wu Feng (吳鳳)
Wu Feng was born in Pinghe county (平和縣) in Fujian province (福建省) in
the early 18th century during the reign of Emperor Qian Long (乾隆皇帝1736AD
to 1795AD), the fourth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (清朝 1644AD to 1911AD).
When Wu Feng was only a young boy his family emigrated to Taiwan which had
become a prefecture of Fujian province in 1683AD after the army of the Qing
Dynasty had destroyed the dissident forcesof Zheng Jing (鄭經), son of Zheng
Cheng Gong (鄭成功). By nature Wu Feng was taciturn and he loved books.
He was a man of integrity and righteousness.
When Wu Feng grew up and finished his studies he was employed as an official
in the prefecture administration of Taiwan. He rose to the rank of Aboriginal
Liaison Officer. He was posted to Jiayi (嘉義), a town not far from the
mountainous region of Ali Shan (阿里山) which was mostly inhabited by the
head-hunting Aboriginal tribe of Gao Shan (高山 Takasago). An animistic
people (during the 18th century), the aborigines would kill strangers who
happened to wander into their territory and use the heads of their victims
as sacrifices to their gods. (Please note, this thing happened many a few
hundred years ago).
Wu Feng tried to bring reform and civilization to the Aborigines hoping
that they would give up their barbarous practices. But they were stubborn
and unyielding and did not appreciate the good work of Wu Feng.
One day, Wu Feng disguised himself as an ordinary common man and wandered
into Ali Shan. Seeing a stranger rambling in the woods in their territory,
the Gao Shan people killed and decapitated him. They took his head back
to their villages. They placed his head on their sacrificial altar. The
Gao Shan people were shocked and stunned to discover that it was the head
of their beloved and respected liaison officer, Wu Feng.
The Aborigines were overwhelmed by deep sadness and cursed themselves for
having taken the life of a much loved and honest man. In order to repent
for their sins they voluntarily gave up the evil practice of head-hunting.
Wu Feng was posthumously honoured as the Kind Sage (仁聖) of the Gao Shan
people. A town in the region of Ali Shan was named after Wu Feng in his
honour.
This is a comment by Dr Tin-Kay Goh:
Wu Feng actually sacrificed himself to stop the constant friction between
the Han settlers and the Taiwanese Aborigines. He was highly respected by
the Aborigines because he stood for their rights. In order to stop the future
killings he allowed himself to be ambushed so that his sacrificial head
would be a shock to the Aborigines elders who treasured his friendship.
Subsequent to his death, head hunting lost its flavour.
--------------------------------
(3) Wu Sangui (吳三桂)
When the Manchus (滿州) were entering Zhongyuan (中原 China proper) there
was a popular folk song sung by the people in the provinces of Jiangsu (江
蘇省) and Anhui (安徽省). It was like this;
朱家麵, 李家磨,
作成一個大饃饃,
送給對巷趙大哥.
This was Zhu family's flour that the Li family kneaded it,
And made it into a big Man-Tou (steamed bread),
And gave it to elder brother Zhao, in the opposite lane.
The surname of the Ming Dynasty (明朝 1368AD to 1644AD) was Zhu (朱).
Li family was Li Zicheng (李自成), the leader of the peasant uprising.
Elder brother Zhao was the Manchus from the northeast.
In 1652AD, the 9th year reign of Emperor of Shun Zhi (順治皇帝), of the
Qing Dynasty (1644AD to 1912AD) a famous poet wrote a song about Chen Yuanyuan
(陳圓圓). This was part of the lyric of the song,
全家白骨成灰土,--------Quan2 jia bai2 gu3 cheng2 hui tu3,
一代紅妝照汗青.--------Yi dai4 hong2 zhuang zhao4 han4 qing.
痛哭六師(軍)皆縞素,---Tong4 ku liu4 shi (jun) jie gao3 su4,
沖冠一怒為紅顏.---------Chong4 guan yi nu4 wei2 hong2 yan.
The whole family has been destroyed,
By the beauty of a woman who now shows in the pages of history.
With a vim and vigour for the lost o the beauty,
The troops army have have t wear white mourning dresses.
Chen Yuanyuan was born Xing Wanfen (邢畹芬). Her mother died when she was
very young. She was brought up by her aunty (mother's younger sister) who
lived in Gusu (姑蘇) of Jiangsu province. She took her aunty's surname Chen
(陳). She was later called Chen Yuanyuan (陳圓圓).
Chen Yuanyuan grew up to be a very beautiful girl. Zhou Kui (周奎), who
was the father of Empress Zhou (周后), the wife of Emperor Chong Zhen (崇
禎皇帝 1628AD to 1644AD) of the Ming Dynasty, bought Chen Yuanyuan and presented
her to Empress Zhou. At that time, Emperor Chong Zhen was deeply in love
with a concubine named Tian (田妃). Empress Zhou presented Chen Yuanyuan
to the Emperor with the intention of getting rid of concubine Tian. However,
in order to get Chen Yuanyuan out of the palace, concubine Tian gave Chen
Yuanyuan to her own father Tian Hongyu (田弘遇) as his mistress. The Tian
family was very rich.
One day, Wu Sangui (吳三桂), a Ming general and a friend of Tian Hongyu,
came to the Tian family for a friendly visit. By coincidence, Wu Sangui
met Chen Yuanyuan. As soon as Wu Sangui saw the beauty of Chen Yuanyuan
he felt in love with her. Seeing that Wu Sangui loved Chen Yuanyuan at first
sight Tian Hongyu gave her to Wu Sangui as one of his concubines on condition
that Wu Sangui must protect the Tian family's property. Wu Sangui agreed
and took Chen Yuanyuan home. They lived happily.
Several months later, Wu Sangui was ordered by Emperor Chong Zhen to the
north to defend Shanhaiguan (山海關 The Gate of Mountain and Sea) which
was the only gate accessable to the Central Plain of China, through the
Great Wall that dividing the Zhongyuan (中原) and the Liaoning (遼寧) peninsular
(Southern Manchuria). Wu Sangui left Chen Yuanyuan in Beijing.
Li Zicheng (李自成) was a poor peasant who lived in Mizhi county in Shaanxi
province.陜西省﹐米脂縣) In 1628AD, the province of Shaanxi was hard hit
by a famine and many people died of starvation. There were banditry every
where and the Ming government could not cope with the disaster. With a few
young men Li Zicheng formed a bandit band and became its leader. His band
was like a rolling snow ball that grew bigger and bigger as thousands upon
thousands of hungry peasants joined him. He organized an army and marched
eastward. While on the march he raided government treasuries and offices.
In April 1644AD, Li Zicheng descended on Beijing, the capital of the Ming
dynasty. Li Zicheng captured Beijing on the 25th of April and his followers
ransacked the city as the Ming Emperor Chong Zhen (Zhu You Jian 朱由檢)
fled and hid in Prospect Hill, over-looking the Forbidden City, not far
from his palace. Later, the Emperor hanged himself in the pavilion on that
hill.
Wu Sangui heard news that his father, Wu Rang (吳蘘), was captured by Li
Zicheng. Li Zicheng forced Wu Rang to urge his son Wu Sangui to surrender.
Wu Sangui agreed to surrender. With his troops Wu Sangui slowly marched
back to Beijing. However, when he arrived at Luanzhou (灤州 present day
Luan county 灤縣 in Hebei province) he heard the news that his favourite
concubine, Chen Yuanyuan was kidnapped by the rebel leader. Wu Sangui changed
his mind and retreated back to Shanhaiguan. Secretly, Wu Sangui sent his
generals Yang Kun (楊坤) and Guo Yunlong (郭雲龍) to see the Manzhous inviting
them joined him to crush Li Zicheng. The Manzhous agreed and Wu Sangui opened
the gate of Shanhaiguan and welcomed the Manzhous in.
The Manchu army formed an alliance with the Ming forces under the command
of Wu Sangui. They marched to Beijing and crushed the rebels. Before he
withdrew from Beijing Li Zicheng killed Wu's father, Wu Rang, and his entire
family of 39. Li Zicheng went off with Chen Yuanyuan. Li Zicheng headed
west trying to return to his home base in Shaanxi province. Somehow, on
the way Chen Yuanyuan escaped and trekked back to Beijing and found Wu Sangui.
The Manzhous, after ceremonially buried Emperor Chong Zhen, refused to go
back to the Northeast.They established the Qing Dynasty (清朝). That was
the end of the Ming Dynasty. In the seventh moon of 1645AD Li Zicheng was
killed by the villagers in Hubei province (湖北省).
Again this is the comment by Dr Tin-Kay Goh
Wu Sangui was probably a most misunderstood man in Chinese history. He was
the Ming general blocking the Manzhous from entering China at Shanhaiguan.
When the rebel leader, Li Zicheng, entered Beijing resulting in the suicide
of the last Ming Emperor at Coal Hill, the rebels captured Wu Sangui's father
and concubine, Chen Yuanyuan. This provoked Wu Sangui to open the Shanhaiguan
and allowed the Manzhous to invade China.
Wu Sangui has been blamed by most Chinese as a traitor equivalent to Qin
Hui (秦檜, the Song Dynasty Prime Minister who executed the patriot Yue
Fei 岳飛), whilst his apologists would exonerate him for his family obligation
and for his love to his concubine.
--------------------------------------
Posted to Overseas Chinese Forum at asiawind.com
By CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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