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The Xie clan: Shaping Chinese history
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ONE of the most prominent clans in Chinese history, the Xie clan dates back 2,700 years. “Xie” in Chinese literally means “thanks.”
An estimated 10 million people in China are surnamed Xie, making it the 23rd most common name in the country. The number of Xies accounts for about 0.79 percent of the Chinese population.
The Xie family originated in today’s southern Henan Province, beginning a southward migration during the late Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC). During the Three Kingdoms Period and the Wei, Jin and Northern & Southern Dynasties (AD 220-589), Xie and Wang were the most renowned families in China.
During the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), the Xies expanded into Fujian and Guangdong provinces becoming a notable family in Southeastern China. After the Ming loyalist Zheng Chenggong conquered the Dutch outposts on Taiwan, representatives of Xie family arrived in Taiwan. Today, hundreds of thousands of people in Taiwan are descended from Zheng’s subordinates, Xie Xian and Xie Yan.
Prominent historical figures from the Xie family include Xie An, a statesman and Prime Minister of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420), Xie Xuan, a famous Eastern Jin Dynasty general, Xie Daoyun, an Eastern Jin Dynasty scholar, poet, debater, and a renowned symbol of female talent, and Xie Linyun, one of the foremost Chinese poets of the Southern and Northern Dynasties (AD 420-589).
Xie was a prominent aristocratic family name during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Xie family members — Xie An, Xie Xuan, Xie Shi and Xie Yan — helped the Jin win the Battle of Fei River, one of the most significant battles in the history of China. In AD 383, former Qin (AD 350-394) emperor Fu Jian, who ruled northern China, launched a major attack, hoping to destroy the Jin Dynasty and unite China. The Xies’ army, who were highly motivated to protect their homeland and armed with a good knowledge of the local terrain were able to engage advance elements of the enemy and withdraw quickly. With the help of the Xie army, the Jin were able to defeat Fu Jian’s army with a force inferior in numbers. The victory ensured the survival of Eastern Jin and other Chinese regimes south of the Yangtze River.
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.
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