Zhang

Zhang (張 and 张 in traditional and simplified, Zhang1 in Pinyin) is among the most common surnames (姓 xing4) used in Chinese family lineages. There are currently well over 100 million people worldwide with this surname. The use of this surname dates back to about 4,700 years ago. It could also be spelt as Chang or Cheung.

Zhang is also a transliteration of another less common Chinese family name 章 as in Zhang Ziyi.

Table of contents

1 Character Analysis 2 History of the Surname 3 Prominent people with family name 張 4 Prominent people with family name 章

Character Analysis

The character per se is comprised of 弓(gong1 -- bow used in warfare) and 长 (chang2/zhang3 -- length/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 (ju4 -- 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. Zhang1'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.

History of the Surname

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Prominent people with family name 張

• Iris Chang, writer
• Maggie Cheung, actress
• Leslie Cheung, actor and singer. Committed suicide in 2003.
• Zhang Ailing, female author
• Zhang Chunqiao, member of the Gang of Four
• Zhang Guo Lao, one of the Eight Immortals
• Zhang Heng, astronomer and mathematician
• Zhang Liang, aide of Liu Bang. His ancestors were the ministers of State of Han.
• Zhang Sanfeng, martial artist
• Zhang Yimou, film-maker
• Zhang Xueliang, military leader
• Zhang Zhong, chess player
• Zhang Zizhong, military leader

Prominent people with family name 章

• Zhang Binglin, phonologist
• Zhang Ziyi, actress