The surname Li, today there are more than 100 million people in the country, ranking second among all surnames. So how did the surname Li originate and how did it develop into one of the three major surnames in the country? This starts with the Supreme Justice during the reign of King Zhou of Shang.
The ancestor of the surname Li was the logical in the late Shang Dynasty.
The Li at that time was not Muzi Li, but the truth.
Gao Yao
Li Zheng's ancestor was Gao Yao. Gao Yao was named Ying. Because he was appointed as Dali by Shun, he was a judge. Therefore, among his descendants, some people used his official position as the clan, called Li.
Li Zheng
When Li Zheng was passed down to Li Zheng, he not only inherited the "Li" family, but also inherited Gao Yao's excellent judicial genes and became a judge. However, Li Zheng strictly enforced the laws formulated by King Zhou of Shang, enforcing the law like a mountain, not committing personal love, offended some nobles and was eventually persecuted to death.
Li Lizhen
After Li Zheng died, his wife "Qihe" fled out of the capital with her youngest son Lilizhen in her arms. He fled to the "Yihou Ruins" in Yanshi, Henan. The two of them were shocked and scared along the way, hungry and thirsty. Coincidentally, there happened to be an plum tree beside the road, which saved the mother and her life. They picked some plums, had a full meal, and then rested under the plum tree for a while before they survived. Finally, they fled to Ku County in eastern Henan. In order to thank Li Shu for saving his life and to escape the persecution of the court, Li Lizhen changed his surname from the truth to Muzili. Li Lizhen became the ancestor of the Li surname.
Li Er
The surname Li was uploaded and passed on to my brother Li Er. From this beginning, the surname Li became prosperous. Therefore, some people in the surname Li regard Lao Tzu as their ancestors. Of course, more people now think that my son Li Er has the surname Lao. However, my descendants did have their surname Li.
Longxi Li family
In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the Li Yang (hào) of the Li family in Longxi established a separatist regime in Xiliang . Later, Li Han's grandson Li Bao surrendered to Northern Wei . The Li family was all valued in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Li Bao's sixth son, Li Chong, , even became the Shangshu Pushe. Under Li Chong's plan, Qinghe Cui family , Fanyang Lu family, Taiyuan Wang family , and Xingyang Zheng family all formed in-laws with the royal family of the Northern Wei Dynasty. At that time, these four surnames were called the "five surnames" together with the Li family in Longxi. After Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty moved the capital to , Luoyang , and promoted the sinicization, he gave some Xianbei people the surname Li, which is another source of the Li surname. The team of Li's surname was also expanded.
The Li family of the Tang Dynasty
to Tang Dynasty . Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty Li Shimin claimed that he was the Li family of the royal family for the first place of the genius surnames, and gave the Li surname to many Han and ethnic minority generals who had made military achievements. From then on, the Li family in Longxi developed into a huge family that was inclusive and continued, and thirteen major counties emerged. The "Supername Genealogy" of the Tang Dynasty says, "Li's thirteen views are the first, with Longxi as the first."
Ethnic minorities changed their surnames
In addition, in history, there were some ethnic minorities who, in the process of integrating with the Han people, because their surnames were pronounced similar to Li, they changed to Li's family. For example, the Li Yala family of the Mongolian people, the Li Jia family of the Manchu people, and the Yili family of the Xibe people.
Today's Li surname
To this day, the Li surname developed from Li Lizhen at the end of the Shang Dynasty has exceeded 100 million in the country's population, ranking second among all surnames, and is a veritable big surname.
The Li surname has also emerged in history, with more than 60 people who have become emperors and kings alone, and 12 regimes including Xiliang, Tang, Later Tang, and Southern Tang have been established successively.
