Every time an alley is formed, people will naturally give it a name. Once this name is accepted by most people and is widely used, it will truly represent the role of this alley in the entire city. Orientation has become an indispensable symbol in people's interactions, communications and other activities. This is a practical reference to the name of the alley.
Since the names of hutongs were first formed in the Yuan Dynasty, they have only been passed down orally from people to people. As for writing them in words on signs and hanging them at the entrance of the alleys, they only appeared after the Republic of China.
Although the hutongs in Beijing seem to be all-encompassing, they include rivers, lakes and seas (Dajiang Hutong, Hebochang Hutong, Tuanjie Lake, Haibin Hutong), mountains, rivers and sun and moon (Tuyanshan Hutong, Chuandian Hutong, Huisheng Hutong). , Moonlight Hutong), surnames of people (Zhangzizhong Road, Jiajia Hutong), market products (Caishikou Hutong, Yinwan Hutong), factories and workshops (polishing factory, paint making alley), flowers, grass, fish and insects (Huazhi Hutong, Caoyuan Hutong, Goldfish Hutong, beekeeping alley), Yunyuxingkong (Yunju Hutong, Yuer Hutong, Daxing Hutong, Kongchang), chicken, duck and fish meat (Chicken Feet Hutong, Duck Shop, Fresh Fish Port, Meat Market Street), etc., there are many names. It's confusing to watch, but if you analyze it carefully, it still has its own internal rules.
The names of alleys and streets were mostly determined by official government agencies, palaces and temples, warehouses and workshops, bridges, rivers, market trade, commodities and utensils, people's surnames, scenery and people's sentiments, and many of them are still in use today. . Therefore, many hutongs are named after a more obvious image symbol, which also shows the realism, straightforwardness and humor of Beijing people. For example, if the hutongs are wider, people will call them "Kuanjie", and if they are narrow, they will call them "Kuanjie". The slanted one is called "Xiejie", the zigzag one is called "Badaowan", the rectangular one is called "box", the short one is called "Yichi Street", the low-lying one is called "Xiawazi", and the slender one is called "Xiejie". "Bamboo pole", long and flat ones are called "poles", those with one end thin and one thick are called "small trumpets" and so on.
There are also alleys named after special signs, such as Tangzi Hutong, Shihu Hutong, Cypress Hutong (today's Baishun Hutong), Tieshi Hutong, etc. In addition, there are also hutongs named after local characteristics or shapes, such as Er'eryan Hutong, Luoquan Hutong, Chair Circle Hutong, etc. Because the name of the hutong was initiated by Beijingers living in the hutong, there are many Beijing dialects in it, such as Back Yin'er Hutong, Chandeng'er Hutong, Menghutaner Hutong, Dabhu Hutong, Yizi Hutong, and Gaga Hutong. wait.
There are also many hutongs with baby sounds, which make them more Beijing-style, such as Luo'er Hutong, Ya'er Hutong, Yu'er Hutong, Shang'er Hutong, Mao'er Hutong, Pen'er Hutong, and Jing'er Hutong. Hu and others. Some alley names can also express people's good wishes. People are always willing to use some auspicious words to name alleys. Hutongs with the words "happy", "luck", "longevity", etc. include Xiqing Hutong, Xique Hutong, Fushun Hutong, Fusheng Hutong, Shouchang Hutong, Shouyuubai Hutong, etc. There are also Ping'an Hutong, Anfu Hutong, Jishikou Hutong, Yongxiang Hutong, etc. with the words "ping", "an", "ji", and "xiang".
There are also romantic alley names, such as Baihua Depeng, Xinghuatian, etc., as well as ridiculous dog tail (old Beijingers pronounce it as "Gou Yiba"), sheep tail Yang Yiba ) alley, etc. Such as fresh fish mouth, mule and horse market, Gangwa city, sheep market, pig market, rice market, coal market, jewelry market...
The ones named after temples include Longfu Temple Street, Dafo Temple Street, Bao Zen Temple Street, Huguosi Street, Zhengjue Temple Alley, Guanyin Temple Alley, Fangju Temple Alley, etc.
Hutongs named after handicraft workers and ordinary residents include Casserole Liu Hutong (today’s Dashago Hutong), Wangzhima Hutong (today’s Wangzhima Hutong), Gelmazhang Hutong (today’s Shuanma Hutong), Mengduan Hutong, Liuhan Hutong (now Liuhai Hutong), Anchengjia Hutong (now Ancheng Hutong).