Chinese surname · rank 141
柴
柴 is read as chái.
Pinyin
chái
Script forms
Simplified and traditional 柴
Basic meaning
firewood
Five element
Wood
Origin
Time: Zhou and later Chai place/branch traditions; Zhou and later surname traditions, from 1046-256 BCE onward
Place: Multiple Chai place traditions across northern China
Origin note
Chai surname traditions include place-name and branch-name layers. The firewood meaning is useful for the visual card but not the only origin.
Historical figures
柴荣
921-959 CE · Later Zhou emperor
Known as Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou.
柴绍
588-638 CE · Tang general
An early Tang military figure.