China also has two-character surnames, isn’t it the case in Japan?

Two-character surnames are not only found in Japan, but also in China. They are called compound surnames.

A surname consisting of two or more Chinese characters. Such as Ouyang, Sima, etc. There are many sources of compound surnames, such as official names, fiefdoms, occupations, etc. Some are derived from surname changes by ethnic minorities.

Compound surname genre:

Chinese compound surnames are divided into Han compound surnames and ethnic minority compound surnames. Zheng Qiao, a historian of the Southern Song Dynasty, in his famous book "Tongzhi: Clan Briefing", divided the Han-style compound surnames of ethnic minorities from the Western Han Dynasty to the Sui and Tang Dynasties for more than 1,000 years into "Daibei compound surnames", "Guanxi compound surnames" and "Zhufang compound surnames". "Three major schools.

"Daibei Fu surname": generally refers to the surnames of more than two characters of the Han and ethnic minorities in the Northeast and Northwest regions. The compound surnames of Daibei included in "Hundred Family Surnames" include Helian, Yuwen, Yuchi, Changsun, Murong, Wanqi (Mòqí), Huyan and other surnames. The historical surnames Chiluo, Chiwen, Chimen, Chinu and Chilu It also belongs to the Daibei Fu surname.

"Guanxi compound surname": generally refers to the compound surnames of various ethnic groups, mainly Qiang, living in the area west of Hangu Pass or Tongguan. For example: Xiner, Mozhe, Lifei, Mijie, Fumeng, Yesterdayhe, Qunan, Hanjing, Lubu, etc. These are all compound surnames of the Qiang people.

"Compound surnames from all directions": generally refers to the compound surnames used by immigrants from neighboring countries and ethnic groups in China. Such as Fuyu, Buddha Tu, Kasyapa, Hei Te, Xi Xian, Court Minister, Qu Tan, Jiumo, Yan Shan, Fu Yu, Qie Mo, etc. According to Zheng Qiao's research, the origins of these compound surnames come from present-day Central Asia, West Asia, India, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. People with the surname "Qiemo" are from the Western Regions, people with the surname "Xixian" are from Korea, people with the surname "Courtmaster" are from Japan, and people with the surname "Jiumo" are from Tianzhu. These compound surnames were later assimilated into Han single surnames and are no longer used by anyone. Since the Song Dynasty, "Xianbei compound surnames", "Khitan compound surnames", "Jurchen compound surnames", "Mongolian compound surnames", "Manchu compound surnames", and compound surnames of ethnic minorities in southern China have been added.

Common compound surnames: