You Collection, Lower Volume, Radical: City (yì) Zheng; Kangxi Stroke Count: 19; Page 1277 Pronounced zheng (falling tone) [from Tang Yun, Ji Yun, Yun Hui, Zheng Yun]. A state name. "Zheng" refers to a plain and orderly land. — Shiming Originally, Zheng was a region near the capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty. King Xuan of Zhou enfeoffed his younger brother You here, establishing the state of Zheng. Duke Huan of Zheng entrusted his family and property to the states of Guo and Kuai. His son, Duke Wu of Zheng, assisted King Ping of Zhou in establishing the Eastern Capital. Consequently, the territory was relocated, and the former state name was used for the new city, which became known as Xinzheng. This is present-day Zhengzhou in Kaifeng Prefecture, Henan. There is also Nanzheng, which is a county name. It is now under Hanzhong Prefecture, Shaanxi. Duke Huan of Zheng's fief was near the capital, called Xizheng. Hanzhong is south of Jingzhao, hence it was called Nanzheng for distinction. — Zhengzi Tong Nanzheng was a city attached to the ancient state of Bao. After Duke Huan of Zheng died, his people fled south and resided here, thus it was called Nanzheng. — Yitongzhi Also, "zheng zhong" means earnest or solemn. — Guangyun "This is not what Heaven meant by earnestly bestowing omens." — Former Han Dynasty, Biography of Wang Mang Also a surname. The state of Zheng was destroyed by the state of Han, and its descendants then took the state name as their surname. — Ji Yun