QING SUN

(Chinese) ‘Dark blue’.

Chinese 孙: from the name of Hui Sun, a high official of the state of Wei, which existed during the Zhou dynasty (1122–221 bc), located in presentday Shanxi province in north-central China. Wen Wang, the virtuous duke whose magnanimous rule led to the establishment of the Zhou dynasty in 1122 bc, had an eighth son named Kang Shu, who was enfeoffed the state of Wei. The ruling line continued through Wu Gong, whose son Hui Sun became a high official of Wei; his descendants adopted the given name Sun as their surname. Sun Tzu was author of The Art of War, written during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 bc) and still much quoted today. Sun Yat-Sen (1866–1925) was the revolutionary leader instrumental in the overthrow of the Chinese dynastic system early in the twentieth century.