Chinese surname No.159 Ling2

Ling2 means : (n) ice; (v) approach; advance.

Surname Ling2 is about 3200 years old.

This is the story of surname Ling2.

The Zhou people belonged to the Xia4 clan. They were the descendants

of Ku4 Di4 (2435BC to 2366BC). They lived in the region of Wei4 Shui3

River (present day Wei4 Yuan2 district in Gansu province).

In around 1783BC after the foundation of the Shang Dynasty (1783BC

to 1135BC) by Zi3 Li2 the Zhou people were pushed out from that region.

They then settled down in the upper mountainous region of Jing Shui3

River.

In around 1230BC Quan3 Rong2 the barbarians from the north attacked

them. Their leader Gu3 Gong Dan4 Fu4 did not resist the barbarians as

they were not strong enough to do so. He moved his people to the center

of the Wei4 Valley west of the Yellow River and established his capital

at Qi2 Shan (present day Qi2 Shan city in Shaanxi province). The land

here was flat and virgin. It was suitable for agricultural. The Zhou

people became a strong and prosperous State.

In 1185BC Ji Chang became the leader of the Zhou people.It was during

the reign of King Chou2 (1154BC to 1122BC) of the Shang Dynasty that

he was summoned to serve in the Shang capital Chao2 Ge (present day

Qi2 district in Henan province). He was rewarded the title Xi Bo2 (West

Viscount). He appointed his youngest brother to be the acting leader of

the Zhou people while he was away. He with one of his sons named Ji Kao3

took up residency in the capital Chao2 Ge.

King Chou2 was a very clever and capable King. Later he married the

most beautiful woman in the land. The couple neglected the welfares of

the country. They were living in debauchery. King Chou2 built many big

palaces. He swindled off the wealth of the country. He became wicked

and cruel.

Chang advised him not to be too spend-thrift. King Chou2 had him

imprisoned and killed his son Ji Kao3. Chang was released after 3

years in imprisonment. He went back to his home land and died soon

after.

In 1135BC Ji Fa succeeded him as the leader of the Zhou people. 12 years

later Ji Fa congregated a large army and destroyed the Shang Dynasty. King

Chou2 committed suicide. Ji Fa established the Zhou Dynasty (1135BC to

250BC). He titled himself King Wu3.

He delegated authority to his eighth brother Kang Shu to rule a district

called Wei4 which he renamed it as the State of Wei4. His title was Gong

(Duke).

Many years later one of Kang Shu's sons was employed by the Zhou Court

as a Ling2 Ren2 which was an official title for an official in charge of

storing ice. During those time in winter officials had to store up ice in

a certain special cellar for the King to use when summer arrived. The

position as a Ling2 Ren2 was very important as far as the King was concerned.

That was the only way that the King could have some icy cold drink during

summer time.

After his death his children adopted LING2 as their surnames and left

off the word Ren (person) in remembrance of his official title.

Surname Ling2 was originated in an area called He2 Jian Prefecture

named by the Han4 Dynasty (206BC to 220AD).

He2 means : a river; a canal; a stream; a brook.

Jian means : between; in the midst; among.

The present day location of He2 Jian Prefecture is in Xian4 district

in Hebei province China.