Zhang (surname)

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Zhang (Simplified Chinese: 张; Traditional Chinese: 張; pinyin: Zhāng) is among the most common Chinese surnames. In 1990 edition of Guinness Book of Records, it was listed as the world's most common surname, with over 100 million people worldwide with this surname. It was also ranked third in the People's Republic of China by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in early 2006. [1]. The use of this surname dates back to about 4,700 years ago.[citation needed]

Zhang is pronounced and transliterated in a variety of ways. In Mandarin Chinese it is Pinyin: Zhāng, Wade-Giles: Chang, Tongyong Pinyin: Jhāng. In Cantonese it is Yale: Jèung, Jyutping: Zoeng1, Hong Kong Government: Cheung. In Minnan, it is Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tiuⁿ, in Southeast Asia where a variety of dialects are spoken: Teo or Teoh in the Minnan/Teochew dialects, Chong in Hakka, Cheong in Cantonese and many other spellings based on the Romanisation of the Chinese dialects used. The corresponding Korean surname is 장 which is frequently transliterated as Jang or Chang. Some confusion arises with the surnames Zhuang (莊) and Jiang (蔣) that are also written as 장 in Korean, and which are also frequently transliterated as Jang or Chang. The corresponding Vietnamese version is Trương.

Another Zhang, 章, is a less common surname which also has the same pronunciation of Zhāng in Mandarin, Cheung in Cantonese, and Jang in Korean. However, this name is pronounced differently in Minnan (Chiong) than Tiuⁿ (張). Likewise, the Vietnamese can clearly distinguish this name, pronounced Chương, from Trương (張).

Contents

Character analysis

The character (張) per se is comprised of 弓 (gōng -- a bow used in warfare) and 长 (cháng or zhǎng -- "length" "long" or "to grow," though it is probably the latter that contributes to the notion of an expanding bow). Appropriately, the ancient form of this character uses 巨 (jù -- huge, towering) in place of 长, thereby suggesting an even more concrete idea; this form is considered today to be that of an ancient variant which has since faded from everyday usage. Zhāng's literal translation is "to open forth", or "to spread", although its common use is a measure word for (relatively) flat objects such as paper and mattresses.

History of the surname (張)

The origin of the surname Zhang is legendary. The fifth son of Huāng Dì (Emperor), the legendary supreme ancestor of all Han Chinese, was Qīng Yáng Shì (青阳氏). Qīng Yáng Shì's son Huī (挥) was inspired by the Chinese Arc Constellation -- Tiān Gōng Xīng (天弓星) in the sky and invented the bow. Later Hui was assigned as Gōng Zhèng (弓正), the minister in charge of observing the Arc Constellation and making bows. Then Hui and his descendants were bestowed the surname Zhang, which, if broken into its constituent radicals, would mean "the master of bows" in Chinese. It is believed that the ancestors of Zhang's were archers and the bow as a totem of their tribe.[citation needed]

Zhang had also been a surname by which Manchus and Mongolians chose to sinicize their names since the beginning of the Republic (1912).[citation needed]

Prominent people with Chinese family name 張/张

Entertainment

Literature, writing, journalism

  • Chang, Iris (1968–2004), writer
  • Chang, Jung or Zhang Rong (*1952), author of Wild Swans
  • Zhang Ailing or Eileen Chang (1920–1995), female romantic story writer
  • Zhang Dai (1597-1689) Ming dynasty essayist, historian.
  • Zhang Xiguo or Chang Hsi-kuo (*1944), Taiwanese science fiction author

Sports

Government, military

Others

Prominent people with Chinese family name 章

Prominent people with Korean family name 장 (張/章)

Main article: Jang (Korean name)

Prominent people with Vietnamese family name Trương (張)

  • Truong My Hoa, Vice President of Viet Nam
  • Truong Dinh Tuyen, Min. of Trade of Viet Nam
  • Truong Vinh Trong, Viet Nam Dep. Prime Min.
  • Truong Van Cam-better known as Nam Cam, a famous Vietnamese gangster and former soldier

Others

See also

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