The Grounds Behind Different Family Names In China

The civilization of the societies of China has been one of the longest and still persisting in the world. There are various things about the largest vast of land in the Asian continent -- the Great Wall of China, the Chinese zodiac, the different dynasties, and their unique family names. Compared to the naming process in Western cultures, the locals of China write their family names ahead of their given name.

In general, personal Chinese names are patrilineal, which means that their names have been taken from the father to the children. However, in China, compared to Western societies, the last names of the women were not substituted. During the 5th century B.C., royalties and the privileged were the only individuals allowed to have a surname. In addition, the different Chinese surnames were given based on their tribe. Moreover, individuals had two classes of surnames namely the xing and the shi.

Furthermore, the current naming process of the Chinese have been taken up by most countries in the Eastern part of Asia. However, individuals who have resided or engaging in business in Western countries have substituted their names so that it can be applicable to the Western naming system.

Nonetheless, individuals cannot deny the concept that surnames represent the character, clan, or origin of the inhabitants of China.