Chinese surname · rank 249
巫
巫 is read as wū.
wū
Simplified and traditional 巫
wizard, sorcerer, witch, shaman
Earth
Time: Ancient occupation surname layer, Shang Wu Xian layer over 3100 years old, Zhou conquest migration layer, Sui southeast-entry layer, and late-Song Hakka distribution layer; Xia-dynasty tradition, c. 2070-1600 BCE
Place: Kui's Wu near today’s Wushan, Sichuan; Chaoge; Pingyang around today’s Linfen, Shanxi; Huai River and Jiangnan routes; southern Fujian, northern Guangdong, and southeastern Jiangxi Hakka regions
Origin note
巫 is chiefly an occupation and office-name surname. 23mofang cites the old explanation that surnames could come from work or office, with Wu, Bu, Tao, and Jiang as examples; in early society, wu specialists handled ritual, divination, and medical functions, and Shang society gave such people high political and religious status. A second line centers on the Shang minister Wu Xian: sources say he was enfeoffed at Kui's Wu, around today’s eastern Wushan in Sichuan, and descendants used Wu as a surname. A third legendary layer names Wu Peng, a healing wu-physician from the Yellow Emperor tradition. Later summaries also mention Gongwu compound-name reduction, Wu Zhu or Wu Xian official titles, and the Wuma branch. The page keeps these as layered traditions rather than one universal descent claim.
Historical figures
Historical figures to enrich
This surname page is ready for a fame-ranked figure list. Later passes can add generals, poets, rulers, artists, scholars and modern public figures with source links.