蔡氏圖騰釋義 

【釋義】 蔡字由「艹」和「祭」組成，為會意字。蔡的本意是祭祀。 

【起源】 源於河南上蔡、新蔡。公元前11世紀，周武王姬發滅商後，封賞功臣與昆弟，將弟弟叔度（周文王第五子）封於「蔡」（今河南上蔡），建立蔡國。蔡叔度與兄管叔鮮、弟霍叔處受命幫助並監督被封在商朝舊都的殷紂王之子武庚祿父，管理殷商遺民，史稱「三監」。後來蔡叔度之子蔡仲在魯國政績卓著，周公復封他於蔡地，以奉蔡叔之祭祀。蔡國後被楚國所滅，子孫以國為氏。

• 得姓始祖： 蔡叔度、蔡仲

• 始祖地： 河南上蔡、新蔡

• 郡望堂號： 濟陽、汝南、洛陽；南陽堂

• 當今排序／人口： 第34位／約701萬

• 宋版百家姓排序： 第137位

• 現存家譜： 486部

Interpretation of the Cai Clan Totem

 [Definition] The character "Cai" (蔡) is a compound ideograph composed of the "grass" radical (艹) and "Ji" (祭 - to sacrifice). The original meaning of "Cai" is related to the act of sacrifice.

[Origin] Originating in Shangcai and Xincai, Henan. In the 11th century BC, after King Wu of Zhou (Ji Fa) defeated the Shang Dynasty, he enfeoffed his meritorious officials and brothers. He granted his younger brother, Shu Du (the fifth son of King Wen of Zhou), the land of Cai (present-day Shangcai, Henan), establishing the State of Cai. Cai Shu Du, along with his brother Guan Shu Xian and younger brother Huo Shu Chu, was ordered to assist and supervise Wu Geng (the son of the defeated King Zhou of Shang), who had been enfeoffed in the old Shang capital to manage the remnants of the Shang people; this group was known historically as the "Three Overseers." Later, Cai Zhong (son of Shu Du) achieved outstanding political achievements in the State of Lu. Consequently, the Duke of Zhou re-enfeoffed him in the land of Cai to continue the ancestral sacrifices to Shu Du. The State of Cai was eventually conquered by the State of Chu, and the descendants adopted the state's name as their surname.

• Ancestral Founders: Cai Shu Du, Cai Zhong

• Ancestral Homeland: Shangcai and Xincai, Henan

• Prefectural Seats (Junwang) and Hall Names: Jiyang, Ru'nan, Luoyang; Nanyang Hall

• Current Ranking / Population: 34th / Approx. 7.01 million

• Song Dynasty "Hundred Family Surnames" Rank: 137th

• Extant Genealogical Records: 486 volumes