The Chinese have long used the expression "children of the Yellow Emperor," (an early ruler of China), to describe their pedigree. In order to distinguish themselves from the "barbarians" who periodically invaded and settled in China, Chinese have over time clung even more firmly to their precious family names.
中國人一向以炎黃子孫自居，尤其後來四方的夷狄陸續入侵並定居中國，我們的老祖宗為了有別於那些「蠻夷之族」，就更加珍惜、重視自己的姓氏了。