HONG KONG — What started as a routine guest-hosting gig on a popular radio program turned into a surprising family history lesson for Hong Kong singer-actor Edan Lui, who learned live on air that he may be a descendant of the legendary ancient Chinese figure Jiang Ziya, also known as Lü Shang.
Lui, a member of the hit Cantopop group Mirror, filled in as a temporary host Monday on Commercial Radio’s Bad Girl program. The show’s regular host, DJ Sammy, is currently on holiday in Japan. Co-hosts Cheng Ching-yi and Elsie Lui—who shares the same surname—had recruited colleagues including Terri and D.J. Donald to cover for the week.
During Monday’s broadcast, Elsie Lui jokingly called Edan “Lui Jat Earn,” a play on his name. Edan admitted feeling pressure and slight nervousness about the role. Co-host Cheng expressed surprise that he agreed to fill in, to which Edan responded, “I regretted it a little when I woke up.” Elsie Lui said she thought he might not show up at all. “Crazy, no way. How could I be that kind of person?” Edan replied. Cheng added she expected him to arrive at 11 a.m. or even skip the session, noting his improved punctuality compared to past variety show shoots.
The conversation took an unexpected turn when Edan shared a personal story about discovering his ancestry. Noting that both he and Elsie Lui share the surname Lui, Edan asked, “When you were kids, did you ever imagine who your ancestors were?” Elsie answered, “Lü Buwei and Lü Bu,” referring to a renowned merchant and a fierce warrior from ancient China. Edan immediately high-fived her, revealing he had the same fantasies.
Edan recounted a recent dinner with his father and sister. “My dad suddenly asked, ‘Do you know who our ancestor is?’ I said, ‘Is it Lü Bu or Lü Buwei?’” Edan recalled. “I always thought our ancestor must be as brave as Lü Bu or as smart as Lü Buwei—one is the warrior, the other the strategist.”
To his surprise, his father corrected him: “It’s Jiang Ziya.” Confused, Edan replied, “But his surname is Jiang, and ours is Lui.” His father explained that Jiang Ziya’s original name was Lü Shang, making him a paternal ancestor. Even more striking, the family home in the mainland village bore a plaque reading “Weishui Liufang”—a phrase traditionally associated with Jiang Ziya’s descendants.
When Edan asked why his father had never mentioned this before, the elder Lui admitted he only learned the information recently while searching online. “Maybe he was bored and searched for the surname Lui,” Edan joked.
Cheng seized the moment, telling listeners, “All media, listen up. Today we didn’t just have Edan—we hosted a descendant of Jiang Ziya.” Edan then introduced himself as “Lui Jat On, descendant of Lü Shang.”
After the show, Edan updated his profile on the social platform Threads, changing his avatar to an image of Jiang Ziya and listing himself as “Descendant of Jiang Ziya, Master of Nonsense.”
The revelation delighted fans, who flooded social media with comments about the singer’s newfound ancient lineage. The episode highlighted how modern technology and family traditions can unexpectedly connect younger generations to China’s rich historical tapestry.
