Bai Jia Xing compound surname #50

东郭

东郭 is read as Dōngguō. It is one of the 60 compound surnames in the expanded Bai Jia Xing sequence.

Pinyin

Dōngguō

Script forms

Simplified 东郭 · Traditional 東郭

Meaning

eastern outer city wall or eastern suburb; urban place-name surname

Five element

Wood

Origin

Time: Spring and Autumn period, 770-476 BCE

Place: Eastern outer city of Linzi, Shandong

Origin

东郭 is usually traced to Qi, where descendants or retainers connected with the eastern 郭 of the capital were called Dongguo. The tradition is tied to Spring and Autumn Qi and the urban layout around Linzi.

Name meaning

The surname is urban and positional, marking a clan by the east side of a walled capital. Dongguo Xiansheng adds a familiar fable association.

Historical figures

东郭牙 Dongguo Ya

Dongguo Ya was a Qi official associated with the surname.

Reference: 东郭牙 Dongguo Ya

东郭先生 Dongguo Xiansheng

Dongguo Xiansheng is a well-known fable figure.

Reference: 东郭先生 Dongguo Xiansheng

东郭先生

Dongguo Xiansheng is a well-known fable figure, so Dongguo can carry a literary and cautionary-story association.

Reference: 东郭先生