Zhang (surname)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zhang (張) 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. It takes the form 張 in Traditional Chinese and 张 in Simplified Chinese.
Zhang is pronounced and transliterated in a variey 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, Jèung 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).
Zhang is often mispronounced by American English speakers as IPA [ʒæŋ]; its actual pronunciation (IPA [tʂaŋ]), is pronounced somewhat like "jaang."
Contents |
[edit] Character analysis
The character (張) per se is comprised of 弓 (gōng -- a bow used in warfare) and 长 (cháng or zhǎng -- "length" 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.
[edit] History of the surname (張)
The origin of the surname Zhang is legendary. The fifth son of Huang Di (Yellow Emperor), the legendary supreme ancestor of all Han Chinese, was Qing Yang Shi (青阳氏). Qing Yang Shi's son Hui (挥) was inspired by the Chinese Arc Constellation -- Tian Gong Xing (天弓星) in the sky and invented the bow. Later Hui was assigned as Gong Zheng (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.
Zhang had also been a surname by which Manchus and Mongolians chose to sinicize their names since the beginning of the Republic (1912).
[edit] Prominent people with Chinese family name 張/张
[edit] Entertainment
- Chang, Fei, Taiwanese talk-show host, more commonly known as Fei Ge
- Chang, Hui Mei, Taiwanese singer/ Tribal Princess
- Cheung, Cecilia, actress
- Cheung, Jacky, actor and singer
- Cheung, Leslie (1956–2003), actor and singer
- Cheung, Maggie or Zhang Man Yu (*1964), actress
- Cheung Tak Lan, singer
- Teoh Lai-Poh, Arianna, Miss Malaysia, 1997
- Teoh, Lina, Miss Malaysia, 1998
- Zhang Bozhi, actress and singer from Hong Kong, better known as Cecilia Cheung
- Zhang Xin Zhe or Jeff Chang, Taiwanese singer
- Zhang Yimou (*1950), film director
[edit] 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
[edit] Sports
- Chang, Michael (*1972), tennis player
- Zhang Dan (*1985) and Zhang Hao (*1984), figure skaters. Won silver in Pairs and at the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Zhang Juanjuan, athlete
- Zhang Liangliang, Olympian, foil fencer
- Zhang Ning (*1975), badminton player
- Zhang Yuning (*1977), footballer aka Chinese David Beckham
[edit] Government, military
- Teo Chee Hean, Singaporean Defence Minister
- Zhang Aiping, Communist Party of China general
- Zhang Chunqiao (1917–2005), member of the Gang of Four
- Zhang Fei (167–221), military leader in the period of Three Kingdoms
- Zhang Liang, aide of Liu Bang. His ancestors were the ministers of State of Han
- Zhang Liao, general of wei during Three Kingdoms period
- Zhang Tingyu (1672–1755), Qing Dynasty politician
- Zhang Tian Australian politician, Acting Member for Moreton and former Transport Minister
- Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang (1901&ndash2001), Manchurian warlord
- Zhang Yi (†309 B.C.), strategist during the Warring States Period
- Zhang Yi, military general of the Kingdom of Shu during the period of Three Kingdoms.
- Zhang Zhidong, Late-Qing Dynasty politician
- Zhang Zizhong, military leader
- Zhang Zongchang, (1881–1932), warlord in Shandong
- Zhang Zuolin or Chang Tso-lin (1873–1928), Manchurian warlord, Zhang Xueliang's father
[edit] Others
- Chang, Victor, surgeon
- Zhang, Dong-Yue "Cecilia", kidnapping and murder victim
- Zhang Guo Lao, one of the Eight Immortals
- Zhang Hanyun, Super Girl
- Zhang Heng or Chang Heng (78–139), astronomer and mathematician
- Zhang Qian or Chang Ch'ien (†113 B.C.), spent 12 years starting in 138 BC exploring much of Central Asia for Emperor Han Wu Di
- Zhang Sanfeng or Chang San-Feng, semi-mythical Taoist master
[edit] Prominent people with Chinese family name 章
- Chang, John H., Taiwanese politician
- Zhang Binglin, phonologist
- Zhang Zhong (*1978), chess player
- Zhang Ziyi (*1979), actress
- Zhang Jun (*1977), badminton player
[edit] Prominent people with Korean family name 장 (張/章)
See under Jang (Korean name)
[edit] 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.
- Darwin Truong, World renowned sex machine.
[edit] Others
- Chang, Cho, fictitious character in the Harry Potter novels
- P.F. Chang's China Bistro, a United States restaurant chain
