The Li family originated from the Longxi Commandery. The Li family belonged to the northwest military aristocracy prevalent during the Sui dynasty and claimed to be paternally descended from the Daoist founder Laozi, the Han dynasty General Li Guang, and Western Liang ruler Li Gao. This family was known as the Longxi Li lineage, which includes the Tang poetLi Bai. The Tang Emperors also had Xianbei maternal ancestry, from Emperor Gaozu of Tang's Xianbei mother Duchess Dugu. On the other hand it has also been suggested that evidence indicates a matrilineal Xianbei origin of this clan. Northern Zhou General Li Xian, who claimed to have the same ancestor as the imperial family of the Tang, was in fact of Xianbei origin. Genealogical records of the house seem to have been extensively modified during the rule of the Tang dynasty to conceal their Xianbei heritage. The Tang imperial family preserved many Xianbei customs. The Tang Imperial family was watched over by the Zongcheng si. Longxi Li were claimed by the Tang Emperors as their ancestors. The bigger Longxi Li lineage outside of the Tang Imperial family had prominent members like Li Jiongxiu, Li Yiyan, Li Kui, Li Wei, Li Fengji, Li Zhongyan, Li Jing, Li Zhaode, and Li Bai. The Tang Imperial Longxi Li lineage also included sub lineages like the Guzang Li, from which Li Zhuanmei came from, who served the Later Jin. During the Tang dynasty the Li family of Zhaojun, the Cui clan of Boling, the Cui clan of Qinghe, the Lu clan of Fanyang, the Zheng family of Xingyang, the Wang family of Taiyuan, and the Li family of Longxi were the seven noble families between whom marriage was banned by law. The Tang dynasty included in their imperial family the title of Kaghan of the Yenisei Kirghiz, because the Tang dynasty family asserted Li Guang as their ancestor, and one of Li Guang's grandsons, Li Ling, was asserted as ancestor by the Kaghan of the Yenisei Kirghiz. Some of the Tang dynasty Imperial family's cadet branches ended up in Fujian. The branch founded by Li Dan became prominent during the Song dynasty, as did another founded by Li Fu. Descendants of the Tang Emperors now live in Chengcun village near the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian. There established for the offspring of the royal families of the Zhou dynasty, Sui dynasty, and Tang dynasty during the Later Jin. The Hu family of Xidi are descended from Hu Shiliang, from Wuyuan, who was a descendant of Hu Changyi, a son of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang who was adopted by the Wuyuan Hu family.
