Interpretation of the Bi (毕) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

The original meaning of Bi (毕) is a hunting net—specifically a long-handled net used for capturing birds or small animals in ancient times. In Oracle Bone Script and Bronze Script, the character Bi vividly depicts a mesh net woven from branches attached to a long handle. It symbolizes the resourcefulness and survival skills of the early clan.

【Origins】

1. From the Ji (姬) Surname (Western Zhou): Derived from the name of a state. At the end of the Shang Dynasty, Gao, the fifteenth son of King Wen of Zhou, fought alongside his brother King Wu to overthrow the tyrant Zhou, earning great military merit.

2. The State of Bi: After the establishment of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Gao was recognized as one of the "Four Sages of Early Zhou." He was enfeoffed by King Wu in the land of Bi (north of present-day Chang'an and Xianyang, Shaanxi), where he established the State of Bi and became known as Bi Gong Gao (Duke Gao of Bi).

3. A Golden Age: Duke Gao served as a top advisor alongside the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao, helping usher in the "Rule of Cheng and Kang," a period of great peace and prosperity.

4. The Bi and Wei Connection: A descendant of Duke Gao, named Bi Wan, later served the State of Jin and was enfeoffed in Wei (Ruicheng, Shanxi); his descendants eventually adopted the surname Wei. Those who remained in the State of Bi continued to use the state name as their surname, Bi. Thus, the Bi and Wei clans share the same ancestral root.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestor

Bi Gong Gao (Duke Gao of Bi, Son of King Wen)

Ancestral Homeland

Xianyang, Shaanxi Province

Prefectural Mansions

Fufeng, Dongping, Henan

Notable Hall Names

Henei Hall, Taiyuan Hall

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 150th / Approx. 1,030,000 people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 121st in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

45 volumes currently preserved