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Honest scholar on the threshold of being executed
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EDITOR’S note: Every Chinese family name has its own cultural origin that can be traced back thousands of years. In this column, Shanghai Daily introduces the biggest Chinese family names and their histories.
With 21 emperors surnamed Zhu in China’s history, it’s fair to say that the family of Zhu has thrived, with several significant branches and many famous figures.
Zhu Quanzhong starting the Later Liang Dynasty (AD 907-923) and Zhu Yuanzhang founding Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) both contributed to a speedy development of the Zhu family.
Meanwhile, Zhu Xi, a philosopher from the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279), established a Confucian school of idealist philosophy named “Li Xue,” or “Reason School.”
Another famous Zhu is renowned poet and essayist Zhu Ziqing (1898–1948) whose best-known work is the prose collection “Beiying,” or “The View of Back.”
Significant branches of the Zhu family include “Bailu Tang” (White Deer Branch) and “Jujing Tang” (Keep Respectful Branch), both descendants of philosopher Zhu Xi.
The first name originated from Bailudong College where Zhu Xi taught, while the latter branch is derived from his education principle to “proceed step by step; keep respectful and ambitious.”
“Zhe Kan Tang” (Broken Threshold Branch) is another large branch. They are all descendants of an upright official named Zhu Yun from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).
Zhu expressed his opinion directly to the throne that a treacherous official named Zhang Yu must be executed to keep the nation safe. None of the other officials had dared to say this, as Zhang was favored by the emperor. Zhu’s opinion enraged the emperor who ordered his immediate beheading.
As the executioner dragged him out, Zhu clung to the wooden threshold bar at the bottom of the doorway, so that he could continue his speech. During a long see-saw tussle with the executioner, the threshold was broken.
This made the emperor realize that Zhu was a loyal official, offering advice even at the cost of life, and halted the execution. The emperor said the broken threshold should be left as a reminder to him to listen to good advice.
There are some 15 million people surnamed Zhu in China — the 13th most popular name, accounting for 1.2 percent of the population.
The earliest Zhu family originated from the Yan Emperor’s family, also known as “Zhu Xiang Shi” (朱襄氏) with 5,000 years of history in Henan Province.
Some Zhu families used to be a branch of the Cao (曹) family as the descendant of Zhuan Xu, one of the five top tribe leaders in ancient China.
Other origins also include descendant of Dan Zhu (the son of the Yao Emperor) and the royal family of the Song State in the Spring and Autumn Period.
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