Interpretation of the Xie (解) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

The character 解 (Xie) primarily means "to disassemble" or "to partition." Its original meaning refers to using a knife to butcher or carve game, such as cattle, rabbits, or wild boar. In Oracle Bone Script, the character depicts a pair of hands grasping the horns of an ox, illustrating the fundamental action of preparing to slaughter or butcher a bovine.

【Origins】

1. From the Ji (姬) Surname: This lineage originates from the fief granted to Xie Liang, a grandson of King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty. It is a surname derived from the name of a settlement.

2. Historical Context: During the early Western Zhou Dynasty, Ji Liang (the son of Tang Shu Yu and grandson of King Wu) was enfeoffed in the territory of Xie. He lived and derived his sustenance from this region, located in what is now Xiezhou Town, Yuncheng, Shanxi.

3. Ancient Heritage: Historically known as "Hedong Xieyi," this lineage is exceptionally ancient, tracing its roots back to the ancestral father of the Chinese nation, the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan).

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestor

Xie Liang (Ji Liang)

Ancestral Homeland

Xiecheng (Yuncheng), Shanxi Province

Prefectural Mansions (Junwang)

Yanmen, Pingyang

Hall Name (Tanghao)

Liangdu Hall

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 182nd / Approx. 710,000 people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 140th in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

28 volumes currently preserved