GGood Chinese Name

Chinese surname · rank 38

蔡

蔡 is read as cài.

Pinyin

cài

Script forms

Simplified and traditional 蔡

Basic meaning

wild grass; tortoise used in divination; ancient Cai state

Five element

Wood

Origin

Time: Early Western Zhou period; Western Zhou tradition, 1046-771 BCE

Place: State of Cai, early center around today's Shangcai, Henan Province

Origin note

A major Cai surname tradition traces the surname to the state of Cai. Cai Shu Du, a younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, was enfeoffed at Cai in the early Western Zhou. The early Cai state is associated with today's Shangcai area in Henan Province. Descendants and state people later used Cai as a surname.

Historical figures

蔡伦 (Cai Lun)

died 121 CE · Eastern Han official associated with papermaking

Traditionally credited in Chinese historical memory with improving papermaking technology.

蔡文姬 (Cai Wenji)

c. 177-after 225 CE · poet and musician

A famous late Han cultural figure remembered for literature, music and a dramatic life story.

Sources checked