Zhao (; traditional Chinese: 趙; simplified Chinese: 赵; pinyin: Zhào; Wade–Giles: Chao⁴) is a Chinese-language surname. The name is first in the Hundred Family Surnames – the traditional list of all Chinese surnames – because it was the emperor's surname of the Song dynasty (960–1279) when the list was compiled. The first line of the poem is 趙錢孫李 (Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li).
Zhao may be romanized as "Chiu" from the Cantonese pronunciation, and is romanized in Taiwan and Hong Kong as "Chao" in the Wade–Giles system and as Vietnamese family name "Triệu" in Vietnam. Overall, it can be spelled in Chinese characters and romanized rather differently (ex:兆).
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Modern culture
In Lu Xun's novel The True Story of Ah Q, Ah Q said he belonged to the same clan as Mr. Zhao, who was an honored landlord of the village. Mr. Zhao was very angry. He slapped Ah Q's face and exclaimed: "How could you be named Zhao!—Do you think you are worthy of the name Zhao?"
Since 2015 or earlier, in the Chinese internet, Zhao became the intimation of the Chinese Communist Party and the State of Zhao became the intimation of China. Similarly, The Zhao Family refers to the dignitaries of China, and The Zhao's Army refers to the People's Liberation Army. "How could you be named Zhao!" is popularly used to satirize the people who are humble but pretend to be powerful.
In 2016, the blog writer Program Think set up a GitHub project named Zhao. The project collects the relationships among more than 700 people in over 130 families including Xi Jinping, the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, and many other high level government officials of the Chinese Communist Party. The Cyberspace Administration of China requested GitHub to remove the project. Error status code 451 would be reached if the connection request to the project is from China.
Prominent people with the family name
Historical figures
Zhao Zheng (趙政/赵政), the first emperor of China, founder of the Qin dynasty, most commonly known as Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇)
Zhao Chengjiao (趙成蟜/赵成蟜), the first emperor's half-brother, after the first emperor inherited the throne, he rebelled and was killed by the emperor
Zhao Chou (趙犨/赵犨), warlord during the Late Tang dynasty
Zhao Dejun (趙德鈞/赵德钧), general of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Tang and Later Tang's predecessor state Jin
Zhao Gao (趙高/赵高), close advisor to emperors during the Qin dynasty. He was one of the most corrupt, villainous, violent and powerful eunuchs in Chinese history
Zhao Jieyu (趙鉤弋/赵钩弋), a consort of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty
Zhao Kuangyin (趙匡胤/赵匡胤) or Emperor Taizu of Song (宋太祖), the founder of the Song dynasty
Zhao Deyin (趙德諲/赵德諲), warlord late in the Tang dynasty
Zhao Dezhao (趙德昭/赵德昭), second son of Emperor Taizu
Zhao Feiyan (趙飛燕/赵飞燕), empress of the Western Han dynasty to Emperor Cheng
Zhao Hede (趙合德/赵合德), imperial consort to Emperor Cheng of Han sister to Empress Zhao Feiyan
Zhao Heng (趙恆/赵恒), third emperor of the Song dynasty
Zhao Zhen (趙禎/赵祯), fourth emperor of the Song dynasty
Zhao Shu (趙曙/赵曙), fifth emperor of the Song dynasty
Modern figures
Amanda Zhao Wei (趙巍/赵巍), Chinese student murdered in Canada in 2002
Zhao Baotong (趙寶桐/赵宝桐) (1928–2003), Chinese Korean War flying ace
Ben Y. Zhao, Professor of Computer Science at University of Chicago
Zhao Benshan (趙本山/赵本山), comedian/actor/director
Carol Zhao (趙一羽/赵一羽; born 1995), Canadian tennis player
Chloé Zhao (趙婷/赵婷; born 1982), Chinese filmmaker
Zhao Dan ([趙丹/赵丹), Chinese actor popular during the golden age of Chinese Cinema
Zhao Erfeng (趙爾豐/赵尔丰) (1845–1911), warlord and historian
Zhao Erxun (趙爾巽/赵尔巽), governor of Sichuan
Zhao Fuxin (趙富鑫/赵富鑫; (1904–1999), physics professor
Zhao Hongbo ([趙宏博/赵宏博), a pairs figure skater
Jack Zhao, Chinese bridge player
Zhao Jiamin (趙嘉敏/赵嘉敏), Chinese idol singer and former member of the Chinese idol group SNH48
Zhao Jingmin (趙京民/赵京民), UN commander, Chinese major general
Zhao Jingshen (趙景深/赵景深), novelist
Zhao Jiping (趙季平/赵季平), composer
Zhao Jiwei (趙繼偉/赵继伟), Chinese basketball player