Interpretation of the Wei (韋) Clan Totem

Definition of the Character: The original meaning of "韋" (Wei) is "to deviate" or "to go in opposite directions." In Oracle Bone Script, the character depicts two people walking away from each other back-to-back. It also resembles two hands rubbing or softening a piece of leather, which became the standard meaning for "processed leather" in later linguistics.

Origin: Da Peng, a grandson of Emperor Zhuanxu, was a vassal during the Xia Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Shaokang of Xia, Da Peng’s grandson, Yuanzhe, was enfeoffed at Shiwei (southeast of modern-day Hua County, Henan), where he established the State of Shiwei. Shiwei (often referred to simply as "Wei") was conquered by Tang, the leader of the Shang tribe, at the end of the Xia Dynasty. The royal descendants of the fallen state adopted the name of their country as their surname. This indicates that the earliest branch of the Wei clan was formed around the 16th century BC.

• Ancestral Founder: Yuanzhe

• Ancestral Homeland: Hua County, Henan Province

• Prefectural Seats and Hall Names: Jingzhao (Xi'an); Fuyang Hall

• Current Rank / Population: 66th most common / Approx. 4.30 million

• Song Dynasty "Hundred Family Surnames" Rank: 194th

• Extant Genealogies: 61 volumes