The Legacy of the Wu Surname
The surname Wu, a common family name in Mainland China, carries a rich history and cultural significance. The Wu surname is written with the Chinese character 吳, which is the sixth name listed in the Song Dynasty classic Hundred Family Surnames.To get more news about wu last name, you can visit shine news official website.
The origin of the Wu surname traces back to the ancient state of Wu in present-day province of Jiangsu. In the thirteenth century BC, the state of Zhou was ruled by Tai Wang (King Tai of Zhou). His surname was originally Ji. He had three sons: Taibo, Zhongyong, and Jili. King Tai of Zhou favored the youngest son, Jili to inherit the reins of power, therefore Taibo and his brother Zhongyong voluntarily left Zhou with a group of followers and headed southeast where they established the state of Wu.
Taibo and Zhongyong's descendants eventually adopted Wu as their surname. The state of Wu later became a powerful kingdom of its own with the help of Generals Wu Zixu and Sun Tzu, the latter best known as the author of the military treatise The Art of War, both serving under King Helü of Wu. King Helü is considered to be one of the Five Hegemons of China during the Spring and Autumn period.
The Wu surname is also one of the most common surnames in Korea. It is spelled 오 in Hangul and romanized O by the three major romanization systems, but more commonly spelled Oh in South Korea. The Vietnamese equivalent of the surname is Ngô.
Several other, less common Chinese surnames are also transliterated into English as "Wu", but with different tones: 武 Wǔ, 伍 Wǔ, 仵 Wǔ, 烏 Wū (also Wù), 鄔 Wū and 巫 Wū. Wu (or Woo or Wou) is also the Cantonese transliteration of the Chinese surname 胡 (Mandarin Hu), used in Hong Kong, and by overseas Chinese of Cantonese-speaking areas of Guangdong, Guangxi, and/or Hong Kong/Macau origin.
In conclusion, the Wu surname is not just a name, but a symbol of a rich cultural heritage and history. It represents the legacy of ancient kingdoms, the wisdom of renowned generals, and the unity of families across generations. The Wu surname is a testament to the enduring spirit of its bearers, a spirit that continues to shape the course of history.
