Interpretation of the Yi (易) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

The original meaning of Yi (易) is "to give" or "to bestow." In Oracle Bone Script, the character Yi depicts the action of using a hand to pour water from one vessel into another. This imagery later evolved to encompass meanings such as granting, exchanging, transforming, or changing. It symbolizes the fluid nature of resources and the concept of reciprocity.

【Origins】

1. From the Jiang (姜) Surname (Lineage of Jiang Ziya): During King Wu's campaign against the Shang Dynasty, Jiang Shang (Jiang Ziya) served as the supreme military strategist. His pivotal role in the victory earned him the King's absolute trust, leading to his enfeoffment at Yi. Later, his descendants were also enfeoffed in the region of Yi (present-day Yi County, Hebei). This branch of Jiang Shang's descendants adopted the place name as their surname.

2. From the Descendants of Yi Ya: Another branch originates from the descendants of Yi Ya, a high official (Dafu) of the State of Qi. His progeny adopted his name as their family name, establishing the Shandong Yi clan.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestor

Shang Gong (Jiang Ziya)

Ancestral Homeland

Yi County, Hebei Province

Prefectural Mansions

Taiyuan, Jiyang

Notable Hall Names

Chunxiao Hall (Pure Filial Piety), Zhili Hall (Planting Chestnut Hall)

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 114th / Approx. 1.75 million people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 150th in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

25 volumes currently preserved

繁體中文版本 (Traditional Chinese)

易氏圖騰釋義

【釋義】

「易」的本義為**「給予」。在甲骨文中，易字的字形像用手將一個器皿中的水注入另一個器皿之中。後來，這個動作引申出贈予、交換、變換與改變**之義。它象徵著資源的流動與更迭，也代表了順應變化的智慧。

【起源】

1. 源於姜姓（姜子牙後裔）： 武王伐紂時，姜尚（姜子牙）擔任統兵軍師，協助周武王取得勝利，深得信任。武王封其於「易」地。其後，姜尚的部分子孫繼承了易地的封土（今河北省易縣），便以地名為姓，形成了易氏。

2. 源於齊大夫易牙： 另一支易氏出自春秋時期齊國大夫易牙之後。易牙的子孫以其名字為姓，稱易氏，這便是著名的「山東易氏」。

歷史與人口概況

類別

詳情

得姓始祖

尚公（姜太公）

始祖地

河北易縣

郡望

太原、濟陽

堂號

純孝堂、植栗堂

當今排序/人口

第114位 / 約175萬人

宋朝百家姓排序

第150位

現存家譜

25部