Interpretation of the Qi (祁) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

Qi (祁) is primarily a place name and a mountain name. There is a Qi County in Shanxi Province, and a famous mountain named Qi Mountain in Li County, Gansu. Etymologically, 祁 is interchangeable with 祈 (Qǐ - to pray); both contain radicals related to ritual or clothing (衣/礻). While one uses the "mound" radical (阝) and the other the "axe/measure" radical (斤), they share a root meaning. In Oracle Bone Script, the original meaning of Qi is to pray to heaven or the deities for blessings and good fortune.

【Origins】

1. From the Yellow Emperor: Among the twenty-five lineages descended from the Yellow Emperor, fourteen individuals were granted surnames, resulting in twelve distinct family names. Qi was the third of these ancient surnames, marking it as one of the oldest in Chinese history.

2. From the Fief of Qi Xi (State of Jin): During the Spring and Autumn period, the surname was adopted from the fief of Xi, a four-generation descendant of Marquis Xian of Jin.

   • Historical Context: Xi served as a Grand Official (Dafu) for the State of Jin and was granted the fief of Qi (modern-day Qi County Ancient Town, Shanxi). He became known as Qi Xi.

   • Legacy: His descendants adopted the name of this ancestral fief as their family name, establishing the Qi clan.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestor

Qi Xi (Grand Official of the State of Jin)

Ancestral Homelands

Xinzheng, Henan; Qi County, Shanxi

Prefectural Mansions

Taiyuan, Fufun

Notable Hall Name

Sanbu Hall (Hall of the Three "No's")

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 176th / Approx. 800,000 people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 200th in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

26 volumes currently preserved