The Zhao Surname: From Zaofu's Fiefdom to Tianshui

The Zhao surname began in the Western Zhou — the charioteer Zaofu won a fief named Zhao for his service to King Mu, and his descendants took the state as their surname. The clan later flourished at Tianshui (present-day Gansu), earning the name Tianshui Zhao.

An Imperial Surname: The Golden Age of the Zhao Clan

• The Chenqiao Coup: In 960 AD, Zhao Kuangyin was draped in the yellow robe and founded the Song dynasty, the most glorious era of the Zhao surname. "Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li..." thus topped the Hundred Family Surnames.
• The Tianshui Dynasty: Historians call the Song the "Tianshui dynasty." After the southern migration, Zhao descendants spread across the Yangtze and later sailed south with Fujian and Guangdong pioneers.
• Southeast Asian Zhao Ancestral Halls: Zhao descendants overseas built halls and carried the "Tianshui Hall" plaque to foreign lands.

Classic Moments of the Zhao Roots Journey

1. Ancestral Worship Ceremony

Inside the Zhao ancestral hall, hold incense and bow before the ancestor tablets and the "Tianshui Hall" plaque, recalling an imperial family's love of home and country.

2. The Red-Flower Portrait

Wear a big red flower and pose with relatives before the Zhao ancestral hall — a glorious moment when bloodlines reconnect.

3. Tracing the Genealogy

Open the old Zhao genealogy, from the Song imperial line to the Southeast Asian branches, and find your own name — understanding how the family has endured through history.

4. The Clan Reunion Banquet

Amid drums and gongs, toast with Zhao relatives from far and wide. Blood is an invisible thread that draws people scattered across the oceans back together.

For the Zhao, Roots Lie in the Morning Light of Tianshui Hall

For overseas Zhao descendants, root-seeking is a reunion with history. When the red flower rests on your chest and you look up at "Tianshui Hall" in the morning light, you understand — a surname is a family history, and your name is its newest chapter.

Recommended: Two-Day Zhao Surname Roots: Tianshui Zhao and the Legacy of the Song Dynasty Journey

Surname Roots Journey · Worship Rite / Genealogy Tracing / Red-Flower Portrait / Clan Banquet

$180.00 $260.00

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