Most people nowadays have a "name" but no "word", so when we talk about "name", we usually refer to only the person's name, or given name. However, in ancient times, most people, especially officials and intellectuals, had both a "name" and a "character", and some people had a "number" in addition to their name and character.
(1) What is a name and a word?
The so-called "name" is a special name for an individual in society, that is, a symbol used by an individual in society. "Zi" is often the explanation and supplement of the name, and is the opposite of the "name", so it is also called "table character". "Book of Rites Tan Gong Shang" says: "Young name, crown character." "Shu" says: "You start adding names in the third month of your life, so it is said that you have a young name. At the age of twenty, you have the way to be a father. Friends and other categories cannot be repeated. When you call someone by his name, you add a name to him. "Also, "Yi Li·Shi Guan Li" says: "When you call someone by name, you give him a name, and others call him by name." It can be seen from this that the name is the name. Started in childhood, for the elders to call upon. When a man reaches adulthood at the age of twenty, he must hold a crowning ceremony, which marks that he will become an official and enter society. When a woman grows up, she has to leave her mother's home and be married. Those who are not married are called "Wei Zi" or "Wai Zi". When you get married at the age of fifteen, you will hold a haircut ceremony, and you will also have to pick a character for your friends to call you.
In ancient times, early personal names were generally very simple. For example, the personal names left by the Xia and Shang dynasties were named Kongjia, Lugui, Waibing, Yongji, Pangeng, Wuding, Xiaoxin, etc. The names of the stems and branches may be related to the people's concept of paying attention to time at that time. Later, with the advancement of society, the development of language and writing, and the strengthening of consciousness and concepts, people's names became more and more complex, and naming people became a science. When choosing a name, the connotation it contains must be carefully considered and considered repeatedly. "Zuo Zhuan: The Sixth Year of Duke Huan" records the five principles of naming in the Spring and Autumn Period: "There are five names: trust, righteousness, image, falsehood, and type." This is the answer to Duke Huan's question by Shen Ru, a senior official in the state of Lu. The name was mentioned at the time, which means: either based on the characteristics of the person's birth, or from several aspects such as admiring auspiciousness, supporting objects to symbolize aspirations, praising virtues, and reposing the expectations of the parents. He also put forward seven no’s: “Not based on country, not based on officials, not based on mountains and rivers, not based on hidden diseases, not based on animals, not based on utensils and coins”.
The ancients’ practice of attaching importance to meaning and connotation in naming has continued to this day for thousands of years. For boys and girls born due to their physiology. Their personalities and the careers they are going to engage in are different, so the names are also different. Men are often named with words that are mighty, brave, wise, strong and perseverant, while women are often named with words that are virtuous, beautiful, beautiful and beautiful.
In addition, naming also reflects the characteristics of the times. The Xia and Shang dynasties mentioned above are a typical example of their preference for using names of stems and branches. Later, in the long-term feudal society, the families of wealthy officials were mostly named after the meanings of loyalty, filial piety, good fortune, longevity, and prosperity, and promotion and wealth. Therefore, they were called benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, wisdom, trust, blessing, virtue, longevity, and glory. There are particularly many people who are promoted, succeeded to their ancestors, honored their ancestors, and continued their lineage. Common people also want to live a good life and hope to have more children and go to school, so they are called Fugui, Defu, Jincai, Zhixue, Ping'an, Changshun, Mancang, Mancun, Baocheng, Jinsuo, Shuanzhu and other names. Very many.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, many new names appeared, such as Jianguo, Aid Korea, Weiguo, Support the Army, Jianjun, Support Vietnam, Stay in the Soviet Union, Weidong, Red Guard, Cultural Revolution, Study and Work, Support Agriculture, etc. .
Since the opening up, there has been a rise in using foreign names. This is not advisable and should not be promoted.
(2) What is the connection in meaning between abbreviations and names?
The ancients were very particular about selecting abbreviations, and the situation was very complicated. However, careful inspection, analysis, and research revealed that there are rules. Findable. For example, it is common to choose the names according to the order of eldest and youngest among the brothers. For example, Confucius was the second eldest, so he was named Zhongni. He also had an elder brother who was named Meng Lai. The most typical one is Brother Sun from Soochow during the Three Kingdoms period. Sun Ce gave his eldest son the courtesy name Bo Fu; Sun Quan gave his second son the courtesy name Zhongmou; Sun Yi, the third oldest son, took the courtesy name Shubi; Sun Kuang ranked fourth and took the courtesy name Ji Zuo.
There are also many cases where the word "子" is used in the word "子", because "子" was a good name or honorific for men in ancient times. So people like to use it, such as Kong Zhuang, whose courtesy name is Zisi; Zhong Yuan, whose courtesy name is Zi Lu; Sima Qian, whose courtesy name is Zichang; Cao Zhi, whose courtesy name is Zijian; Su Shi, whose courtesy name is Zizhan; Du Fu, whose courtesy name is Zimei; Yuan Mei, whose courtesy name is Zicai.
Although these expressions are common, they have little connection with the real name. In fact, Bo, Zhong, Shu, Ji Hezi are not the real expressions, and the characters behind them are such as "ce" and "quan". ", "thinking", "long", "beautiful", etc. are the main components of the Chinese characters.
This main component is related to the meaning of the real name, and they are introduced below:
1. The meaning is the same: that is, the word and the name have the same meaning, are connected, and are in a parallel relationship, so they are also called "parallel expressions". Such as:
Qu Ping, whose courtesy name is Yuan. Guangping said Yuan, meaning the same.
Yan Hui, courtesy name Ziyuan. Yuan, backwater, has the same meaning.
Jaiyu, courtesy name Zi I. Yu, I also, have the same meaning.
Fan Xu, courtesy name Zichi. Xu and Chi both mean "to wait".
Zhang Heng, courtesy name Pingzi. Balance and balance have the same meaning.
Lu You, view of calligraphy. You and Guan have the same meaning.
Zeng Gong, courtesy name Zigu. Consolidation and solidification have the same meaning.
Ban Gu, also named Meng Jian. Strong and solid have the same meaning.
Meng Ke, courtesy name Ziyu. Ke and Yu are both chariots.
2． Similar meanings: that is, the words and names have similar meanings, but are not exactly the same. They can assist each other, which is called "auxiliary form". For example:
Liang Hong, whose courtesy name is Boluan. Luan and phoenix are both birds, but they are not the same species. Hongyan and Luanfeng can help each other.
Lu Ji, courtesy name Shiheng. Ji and Heng are both star names in Beidou, and they assist each other.
Zheng Qiao, Yu Yuzhong. The woodcutter is a firewood collector, and the fisherman is a fisherman. They are often partners and help each other.
Li Yu, courtesy name Li Weng. Fishermen often wear coir raincoats.
Chen Lin, courtesy name Kong Zhang. Lin and Zhang are both jade products and help each other.
3. Opposite meaning: that is, the meaning of the character and the name are opposite. This situation can be called a "contradiction", such as:
Zeng Dian, the character is Xi. The spots are black and the skin is white.
Zhu Xi, Yu Yuanhui. Xi is the dawn, Hui is the night.
Liu Guo, the name was changed. It's not a fault if you change it.
Wang Ji, named Wu Gong. Achievements and reactive efforts are exactly the opposite.
4. The meaning is consistent: that is, the word and the name often come from a sentence, the meaning is consistent, and the word supplements or modifies the meaning of the name. This situation can be called "expanded". For example:
Xu Qian has a long and long character. "Kong Congzi" said: "It is not that he is not great in his body." The name and the word have the same meaning in one sentence, and the word is in harmony with the famous work