Cai

Cai is a Chinese surname that is most commonly rendered as Cai in mainland China and many international contexts, with Tsai used in Taiwan. The name also appears as the transliteration of other Chinese surnames that share the same pronunciation in different dialects. It is a well-established family name across Chinese-speaking communities and has spread worldwide through migration and diaspora.

The surname is historically linked to the ancient State of Cai (蔡國), a Zhou-era polity. Descendants of the ruling house adopted Cai as their surname after the state declined. Over the centuries bearers of Cai dispersed across China and overseas, contributing to its broad geographic distribution in East Asia, North America, and beyond.

Notable bearers of the surname include Cai Lun, who is credited with advancing papermaking in the Eastern Han period; Cai Yong, a 2nd-century scholar and calligrapher; and Cai Guo-Qiang, a contemporary artist known for large-scale gunpowder works. In modern times, public figures such as Cai Xukun, a Chinese singer and actor, and Tsai Ing-wen (Taiwanese president since 2016) are widely recognized internationally under the name’s various transliterations. The Cai surname appears across many fields, including science, politics, arts, and sports, reflecting its long-standing presence in Chinese-influenced cultures.

In addition to its use as a surname, Cai can appear as a given name in Chinese contexts, though it is more common as a family name. The name’s transliteration and usage vary with language and region, illustrating the diversity of Chinese naming practices in a global context.