‘赐姓’ literally means ‘to bestow a surname’ and refers to the historical practice in imperial China where the emperor granted a new family name—often the imperial surname (e.g., Li 李, Zhao 赵, or Zhu 朱)—to loyal ministers, generals, or foreign rulers as a supreme honor. The character 赐 (cì) means ‘to grant graciously,’ implying authority and benevolence, while 姓 (xìng) means ‘surname’ or ‘family name.’ Together, they form a formal, ceremonial verb that carries strong connotations of imperial favor, political reward, and social elevation.

This term appears almost exclusively in historical texts, novels, dramas, or academic discussions about ancient Chinese institutions. It is not used in modern daily speech; today’s surnames are inherited, not conferred by authorities. Understanding ‘赐姓’ helps learners grasp how naming practices reflected power structures and Confucian ideals of loyalty and merit in pre-modern China.