It is said in the Book of Rites Quli that "men write when they are 2 crowns" and "women write when they are 15", which means that both men and women only take words when they reach adulthood, and the purpose of taking words is to make people respect them and be addressed by others. Ordinary people, especially peers and subordinates, are only allowed to call their elders by their first names.
The ancient people's methods of naming characters were mainly based on the following:
① tautology. For example, Quyuan's name is flat, the word is original, and Guangping is the original. Confucius student Zai Yu, Zi Zi I, Ji Lu Zi You, Yan Hui Zi Yuan, Zhuge Liang Zi Kong Ming, Tao Yuanming Zi Liang, Zhou Yu Zi Gong Jin, Zhu Gejin Zi Yu and Wen Tianxiang Zi Jing Rui all belong to this category.
② Antisense opposition. The word Zhao Shuai, a doctor in Jin Dynasty, is redundant (increased). Ceng Dian (Xiaoheiye) is white. Tang Wang's words are useless, Zhu Xi's words are gloomy, Yuan Zhao Mengfu's words are proud, and Yan Shu's words are the same as uncle.
③ conjecturing the meaning. Zhao Yunzi Zilong (Yun Conglong); Chao Buzhi, the word is blameless; Su Shi, the word Zizhan ("Zuo Zhuan 28 years": "Jun Feng Shi and watch it"); Yue Fei's word Peng Ju.
From the above three categories, it can be seen that words are closely related to names, and words are often the supplement or explanation of names. This is called "name correspondence" and they are both exterior and interior, so words are also called "table characters". These three types are the main ones. In addition, there are cases in which the five elements of the main branch are used to rank the characters, or the lines are ranked, and the father (fu) is added after the words, which are generally included in the scope of words.
Like naming, the word "destiny" has the flavor of the times, with a general trend of beauty and respect for aging, especially in respect of aging.
After the Tang and Song Dynasties, due to the strengthening of Neo-Confucianism, there were more and more red tape, and scholars also made a big fuss about addressing words to show respect. However, after a long time, they gradually felt that addressing words was not respectful enough, so there were more respectful numbers than words.
why did the ancients use the characters and numbers?
Nowadays, most people have "names" but no "characters", so when we talk about "names", we usually mean only people's names, or names. However, in ancient times, most people, especially officials and intellectuals, had both "names" and "characters", and some names and characters had "numbers" in addition to them.
(1) What is a name and a word
The so-called "name" is the special name of individuals in society, that is, the symbols used by individuals in society. "Zi" is often the explanation and supplement of a name, and it is also called "ideographic character". "The Book of Rites on the Tan Bow" says: "Young name, crown word." "Shu" says: "You were born in March and added your name, so you have a young name. When you are 2 years old, you can't call your name again, so you add words to your crown." Also, "Yi Li Shi Guan Li": "If you are crowned, you should respect its name. Your father called his name before, while others called his name. " Thus, the name is from childhood, for the elders to call. When a man reaches the age of 2, he will hold a crown ceremony, which indicates that he is going to be an official and enter the society. When a woman grows up, she has to leave her mother's house and promise to marry. Those who are not allowed to marry are called "Wei Zi" or "Dai Zi". When you get married at the age of fifteen, you should also take words for friends to call:
In ancient times, the names of early people were generally simple, such as Kong Jia, Lu Gui, Waibing, Yong Ji, Pan Geng, Wu Ding, Xiaoxin, etc., all of which were named by cadres, which may be related to the concept that people paid attention to time at that time. Later, with the progress of society, the development of language and the strengthening of consciousness, the names of people became more and more complicated, and naming people became a science. When naming a name, we should carefully consider its connotation and think it over and over again. "Zuo Zhuan Huan Gong Six Years" records five principles of naming in the Spring and Autumn Period: "There are five names, faithfulness, righteousness, image, falsehood and classification." This was put forward by Shen Ru, a doctor of the State of Lu, when answering the question of Huan Gong's name, which means that the name should be named according to his birth characteristics or from the aspects of chasing Mu Xiangrui, expressing his ambition, praising virtue and pinning his parents' expectations. And put forward seven noes: "not to be named after the country, officials, mountains and rivers, hidden diseases, animals, and coins."
The ancient naming practices of emphasizing meaning and connotation have continued for thousands of years. For the boys and girls born, because of their physiology. Personality and occupation are different, so the name is different. For men, the words are mighty and brave, strong and resolute, and for women, the words are virtuous, gorgeous and beautiful.
In addition, naming also reflects the characteristics of the times. The Xia and Shang dynasties mentioned above like to use the names of cadres and branches as a typical example. Later, in the long-term feudal society, officials' wealthy families were mostly named after loyalty, filial piety, loyalty, longevity and health, and promotion and wealth, so there were many people named benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, faithfulness, happiness, virtue, longevity extension, promotion, step-ancestor, glory ancestor and continuation. Ordinary people also want to live a good life and look forward to having many children and grandchildren and going to school, so there are many names called Fugui, Telford, Jincai, Zhixue, Ping 'an, Changshun, Man Cang, Mantun, Baocheng, Jinsuo and Shuanzhu.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, many new names appeared, such as founding the country, aiding Korea, defending the country, supporting the army, building the army, supporting Vietnam, staying in the Soviet Union, Weidong, Hongwei, the Cultural Revolution, studying engineering and supporting agriculture.
since the opening up, the adoption of foreign names has risen again, which is undesirable and should not be advocated.
(2) What's the relationship between ideograms and names in meaning
The ancients were very particular about choosing ideograms, and the situation was very complicated, but careful investigation, analysis and research can also be found regularly. For example, it is common to take words according to the ranking of the eldest and youngest brothers. For example, Confucius ranks second, so the word Zhong Ni, and he has a brother as the boss, and the word Meng Lame. The most typical one is Sun Shi, a brother of Dongwu in the Three Kingdoms period. Sun Ce took the word Bo Fu for the eldest son; Sun Quan took the word Zhong Mou for his second son; Sun Yi ranks third, taking the word Uncle Bi; Sun Kuang ranks fourth, taking the word Jizuo.
There are also many cases in which "Zi" is used on the table, because "Zi" was a good name or honorific title for men in ancient times. So people like to use it, such as hole pile and word thinking; Zhongyou, Zizi Road; Sima Qian, the word is long; Cao Zhi, Zi Zijian; Su Shi, the word Zizhan; Du Fu, beautiful words; Yuan Mei is a genius.
Although these ideographs are common, they have little connection with their real names. In fact, Bo, Zhong, Shu, Ji and Zi are not real ideographs, but the words behind them, such as Ce, Quan, Si, Chang and Mei, are the main components of ideographs. This main component is related to the meaning of the original name, which is introduced as follows:
1. The meaning is the same: the ideograph and the name have the same meaning, which is a coordinate relationship, so it is also called "coordinate type". Such as:
Qu Ping, etymology. Guangping said the original, which means the same thing.
Yan Hui, the word Zi Yuan. Deep and backwater also have the same meaning.
zai Yu, the word zi I. To me, too, means the same thing.
Fan Xu, the word is late. Being late and being late are both meanings of "waiting".
Zhang Heng, whose name is Ping Zi. Equality and fairness are the same.
Lu you, word view. Traveling and viewing righteousness are the same.
Ceng Gong, the word is solid. Gong and Gu Yi are the same.
ban gu, the word Meng Jian. Strong and solid meaning are the same.
Meng ke, the word ziyu. Tui and Yu are all cars.
2. Similar in meaning: that is, the ideograph and the noun are similar in meaning, but not exactly the same, and they can complement each other, which is called "auxiliary type". Such as:
Liang Hong, whose name is Bo Luan. Luan and writing are both birds, but they are not one kind. Hongyan and husband and wife can complement each other.
Lu Ji, the word Shi Heng. Machine and scale are the stars in Beidou, and they are complementary to each other.
Zheng Qiao, Yu Yuzhong. Firewood is firewood, and fishing is fishing. They are often companions and help each other.
Li Yu, whose name is Li Weng. Fishermen often wear hats.
Chen Lin, Kong Zhang. Lin and Zhang are both jade products, which complement each other.
3. Contrary meaning: that is, the ideographic and the nominal meaning are opposite, which can be called "contradictory", such as:
Ceng Dian, the word Xi. The spot is black and dirty, and the face is white.
Zhu Xi, the character is unlucky. Light is morning, and darkness is night.
Liu Guo, change the word. If you change it, it won't be a fault.
Wang Ji, the word is useless. Achievement and reactive power are just the opposite.
4. The meaning is consistent: that is to say, the ideograph and the name often come from one sentence, and the meaning of the name is consistent, and the meaning of the word is supplemented or modified. This situation can be called "expansion", such as:
Xu Gan, the word is long and powerful. "Confucius" said: "It is necessary to be dry." Names and words have the same meaning in one sentence, and the words give a supplementary explanation to the names.
Cao Cao, whose name is Meng De. The article "Xunzi's exhortation to learn" says: "Life depends on reason, death depends on reason, and husband is called virtue." In one sentence, the word and the name are combined into moral conduct, that is, moral conduct, and the word gives a decorative explanation and supplement to the name.
Zhao Yun, the word Zilong. The Book of Changes says: "The cloud follows the dragon and the wind follows the tiger." Names and words in one sentence have the same meaning.
Lu Yu, the word hung-chien. Zhouyi Day: "Hung-chien can be used as an instrument for Lu Qiyu." The word explains the name.
clever, honest words. "Book of Rites" Day: "Honesty is clear." Name and word in a word, honesty is the prerequisite of Ming, and Ming is the consequence of honesty.
Yu Qian, the word Tingyi. Shangshu said: "Modesty benefits." In a word, modesty is the prerequisite and benefit is the consequence of modesty.
5. The meaning is extended: the example means the extension of the meaning of the name. This situation can be called "extended". Such as:
Li Bai, the word is too white. Taibai refers to Taibai Venus, which is an extension of Taiyi.
Du Mu, whose name is Mu Zhi. Mu Zhi is grazing, which extends the meaning of grazing.
Yang Da. Shida, that is, the meaning of scholar advancement, further extends the meaning of da.
Qiu Xi, the word Yong Xi. Yongxi is a provincial contract of "Never tin but never old", which comes from the Book of Songs, Lu Song, and extends the meaning of tin.
LeiJianFu, the words are too simple. It is also an extension that emphasizes simplicity.
(3) How to address names and words in ancient times
In ancient times, due to special attention to etiquette, names and words were very particular. In interpersonal communication, the first name is generally used as a courtesy name, a humble name, or a title that is superior to the next and long to the little. Peers only call each other by their first names when they are familiar with each other. In most cases, it is considered impolite to refer to each other or others by their first names. It is considered polite to compliment each other among peers. When you write or call from below to above, you can call your name, but you can never call your name, especially the name of the monarch or your parents and elders, or you can't even mention it, otherwise it will be "disrespectful" or "outrageous", so it has produced a unique "taboo" system in China. I won't say it here for the time being, but I'll introduce it in detail below.
in ancient times, names and words were used together to show respect. There are two situations that deserve our attention:
The first situation is that in the pre-Qin period, when a name and a word are connected, the word should be followed by the name. Such as:
Kong Fujia, the ancestor of Confucius in the Song Dynasty, "Kong Fu" is the word; "Jia" is a name; The surname is "Gongsun".
Shu Liangge (he), the father of Confucius, "Ge" is a name; "Shu Liang" is a word; The surname is "Kong".
Meng Mingshi, son of Priscilla, "Shi" is his first name; "Meng Ming" is a word; The surname is "Baili".
Xiqiao Shu, the son of Uncle Jian, whose name is Shu; "Xiqiao" is a word; The last name is "Jian".
Bai Yibing, the son of Uncle Jian, "C" is the first name; "Bai Yi" is a word; The last name is "Jian".
the second situation is that after the Han dynasty, when the names are connected, the "name" comes before the "word". Such as:
"Lu Kong Rong Wen Ju, Guangling Chen Lin Kong Zhang, Shanyang Wang Can Zhong Xuan, Beihai Xu Gan Wei Chang, Chen Liu Ruan Yu Yuan Yu, Runan Ying Chang De Jin, Dongping Liu Zhen on business ..." This is a passage in Cao Pi's Dian Lun Papers, which refers to the names of "Jian 'an Seven Children" and is even called.