Zhang (Traditional Chinese: 張, Simplified Chinese: 张, pinyin: Zhāng, Wade-Giles: Chang, Yale: Jeung, Jyutping: Zoeng1, Hong Kong Government: Cheung) is among the most common Chinese surnames. 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.

This surname is often mispronounced by American English speakers as IPA [ʒæŋ]; its actual pronunciation (IPA [tʂaŋ]), is pronounced somewhat like jong. Zhang.ogg

The corresponding Korean surname is 장.

Note: 章 is a less common surname which also has the pronunciation of Zhāng.

Character Analysis

The character per se is comprised of 弓 (gōng -- bow used in warfare) and 长 (cháng/zhǎng -- 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 (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.

History of the Surname

The origin of the surname Zhang is legendary. The fifth son of Huang Di, the supreme ancestor of all Chinese people, 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 got the surname Zhang which means the master of bows in Chinese character. It is believed that the ancestors of Zhang's were archery and the bow was a totem of their tribe.

Prominent people with family name 장

• Chang, Jung Koo, (born 1963), world champion Korean boxer

Prominent people with family name 張

• Iris Chang, writer
• Michael Chang, athlete
• Victor Chang, surgeon
• Maggie Cheung, actress
• Cheung Tak Lan, singer
• Leslie Cheung, actor and singer
• Jacky Cheung, actor and singer
• Zhang Ailing, (1920-1995), female romantic story writer
• Cecilia Zhang, suspected kidnapping victim
• Zhang Dai (1597-1689) Ming dynasty essayist, historian.
• Zhang Chunqiao, member of the Gang of Four
• Zhang Fei, military leader in the period of Three Kingdoms
• Zhang Guo Lao, one of the Eight Immortals
• Zhang Guoping , achieved and well-known accordionist
• Zhang Heng, astronomer and mathematician
• Zhang Juanjuan, athlete
• Zhang Liang, aide of Liu Bang. His ancestors were the ministers of State of Han.
• Zhang Ning, badminton player
• Zhang Qian, spent 12 years starting in 138 BC exploring much of Central Asia for Emperor Han Wu Di
• Zhang Sanfeng, semi-mythical Taoist master
• Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang, (1901-2001), Manchurian warlord
• Zhang Yi, strategist during the Warring States Period
• Zhang Yi, military general of the Kingdom of Shu during the period of Three Kingdoms.
• Zhang Yimou, film-maker
• Zhang Zizhong, military leader
• Zhang Bozhi , actress and singer

Prominent people with family name 章

• Chang, John H., Taiwanese politician
• Zhang Binglin, phonologist
• Zhang Zhong, chess player
• Zhang Ziyi, actress