Beijing’s hutongs have all-encompassing names, including rivers, lakes and seas (Dajiang Hutong, Hebochang Hutong, Tuanjie Lake, Haibin Hutong), mountains, rivers, sun and moon (Tuyanshan Hutong, Chuandian Hutong, Huisheng Hutong, Yueguang Hutong) Hutong), surnames of people (Zhangzizhong Road, Jiajia Hutong), market products (Caishikou Hutong, Yinwan Hutong), factories and workshops (polishing factory, paint making alley), flowers, plants, fish and insects (Huazhi Hutong, Caoyuan Hutong, Jinyu Hutong, Beekeeping along the road), 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 so many names that are fascinating. It may seem confusing, 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.
1. Named after an image symbol
Because many hutongs are named after an obvious image symbol, which also shows the authenticity, straightforwardness and fun of Beijing people. Like a wider alley, people casually call it "Kuanjie", a narrow one is called "Jiadao", a slanted one is called "Xiejie", a zigzag one is called "Badaowan", a rectangular one is called "box", and a short one is called "Xiejie". There are "Yichidajie", low-lying ones called "Xiawazi", slender ones called "bamboo poles", long and flat ones called "carpet poles", one end thin and one thick called "small trumpet" 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.
2. Named after places
In the early years, the most conspicuous and prominent symbols were city gates, temples, archways, fences, wells, rivers, bridges and factories, so There are Xizhimen inner and outer streets, front and back Yuanensi Hutong, Dongsi (archway), Xidan (archway), Dashilan (old Beijingers pronounce it as: Dashila), Shuijing Hutong and Sanlihe named after this. , Yindingqiao Hutong and other alley names.
3. Trees and plants
Some small alleys do not have these particularly conspicuous signs near them. There are many trees planted in the alleys, such as Liushu Hutong, Zaolin Hutong and Chunshu Hutong. Alleys named after trees.
4. Orientation
Many hutongs are named with the words east, west, south, north, front, back and middle in front of the name in order to make it easier to find. Such as Dongtangen Hutong, Xihongmen Hutong, Nanyueyaer Hutong, Beibanbi Hutong, Qianbaihu Hutong, Houniwa Hutong, Zhongmao Hutong, etc.
5. Beijing’s dialect
Because the name of the hutong was initiated by Beijingers living in the hutong, there are many Beijing dialects in it, such as the shady Hutong, Deng'er Hutong, Mengulu Guan'er Hutong, Dabhu Hutong, Yizi Hutong, Gaga Hutong, etc. There are also many hutongs with a rhyme that sounds like Beijing, such as Luo'er Hutong, Ya'er Hutong, Yu'er Hutong, Shang'er Hutong, Mao'er Hutong, Pen'er Hutong, Jing'er Hutong, etc.
6. Auspicious words
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, Xinghua Tian, ??etc., as well as ridiculous dog tail (old Beijingers pronounce it as "Gou Yiba"), sheep tail Yang Yiba ) alley, etc.
7. Alleys named after official government agencies
Such as Lumicang, Xixinsi, Xishiku, Jianyuan Hutong, Fuxue Hutong, Gongyuan Hutong, Bingma Hutong Si, etc., the alleys named after the official titles of relatives of the emperor and nobles, such as Yongkanghou Hutong, Wudinghou Hutong, Sanbao Dadi Hutong (the former residence of Sanbao eunuch Zheng He is now named Sanbulao Hutong), Master Wu Liang Hutong, etc.
8. Alleys named after market trade
For example, Xianyukou, Mule and Horse Market, Gangwa City, Sheep Market, Pig Market, Rice Market, Coal Market, Jewelry Market...
9. Those named after temples include Longfu Temple Street, Dafo Temple Street, Baochan Temple Street, Huguo Temple Street, Zhengjue Temple Alley, Guanyin Temple Alley, Fangju Temple Alley, etc.
10. Hutongs named after handicraft workers and ordinary residents include Casserole Liu Hutong (today’s Dashaguo Hutong), Wangzhima Hutong (today’s Wangzhima Hutong), and Gelma Zhang Hutong (today’s Shuanma Hutong) ), Mengduan Hutong, Liuhan Hutong (now Liuhai Hutong), Anchengjia Hutong (now Ancheng Hutong).
11. Hutongs and names
Beijing’s hutongs have very particular names and are a reference for us to study the society of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, made Beijing his capital, most of his heroes lived in Beijing, and many alleys were named after them.
For example, the hutong where the residence of Yongkang Hou Xuzhong is located is called Yongkang Hou Hutong, which is today's Yongkang Hutong in North City. The hutong where the residence of Wu'an Hou Zhengheng was located was called Wu'anhou Hutong, and later it was mistakenly called Wuwanghou Hutong, which is today's Xisibeibatiao.
In the early Ming Dynasty, General Xu Da lived in Beijing for a long time. His eldest daughter married Zhu Di, the then King of Yan. When Zhu Di attacked Nanjing, Xu Da's fourth son Zengshou informed Zhu Di and was killed by Emperor Jianwen. After Zhu Di entered Nanjing, he caressed the corpse and cried bitterly. After he came to the throne, he posthumously named Xu Zengshou the Marquis of Wuyang, and soon after he was granted the title Duke of Ding. The street where Duke Ding Xu lived was called Dingfu Street, which is today's Dingfu Street in North City. .
As for today’s Sanbulao Hutong, it is the former residence of Zheng He, the Sanbao eunuch. Zheng He was known as Sanbao Dad, and the alley where he lived was called Sanbao Dad Hutong, which was later mistakenly called Sanbu Lao Hutong. Wuliang Lord Hutong in Dongcheng, today's Hongxing Hutong, is a misname of Wu Liang Lord Hutong. Wu Liang was a general under Ming Taizu.
The commercial economy developed after the middle of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, some individual workers also left names for the hutongs where they lived with their outstanding labor. For example, in the Ming Dynasty, there were workers named Tang who washed cloth in Nancheng. The alley where they lived was called Tang Xibai Street, which is today's Tang Xibo Street in Chongwen District.
There is a Fenfang Liuli Street in Xuanwu District, which is a misname of Fenfang Liujia Street. There was a handicraft worker surnamed Yao in Dongcheng who was good at casting pots. The hutong where his home was located was called Yao Zhuguo Hutong. Later it was mistakenly called Yao Zhiguo Hutong, which is today’s Zhiguo Hutong near Beijing Station West Street.
There is a Tofuchen Hutong in Beicheng, which was later called Doufuchi Hutong. Another characteristic of the Ming Dynasty was that there were many paper horse shops used for making sacrifices, which reflected the prevalence of religious activities in the Ming Dynasty. Among the names of the hutongs are Wangzhima Hutong and Hezhima Hutong. Today they are also called Wangzhima Hutong and Heizhima Hutong.
The names of hutongs in Beijing are actually people-centered, and some hutongs are named directly after people. There are also many alleys not named after people, but there are former residences of celebrities, such as Kang Youwei's former residence in Mishi Hutong, Tan Sitong's former residence in the northern half of the alley, Zhongshan Guild Hall where Dr. Sun Yat-sen visited, and Xiao Yang's Alley on Zhuchao Street. It is the birthplace of Mr. Lao She. There is Mei Lanfang’s former residence on Huguosi Street, Mao Dun’s former residence in Houyuanensi Alley, Cheng Yanqiu’s former residence in Xisibeishiao, etc. Although the names of other types of alleys are not directly named after people, they are also directly related to people's daily lives.
The names of Hutongs such as Xiangwen Prime Minister Hutong, Zhangzizhong Road, and Zhao Dengyu Road were all named by people to commemorate the national heroes, thus clearly expressing people's admiration for the national heroes. This shows that the name of the hutong is not only a practical reference, but also has an aesthetic function and humanistic tendency. Ganmian Hutong, Qianliang Hutong, Ciqikou
Jiaozi Hutong, Pener Hutong, Yandai Xiejie and Nanluogu Lane
Chudeng Hutong
Wang Caimaoer Hutong, Nanluoguxiang, etc. There are many, many. It’s best to come to Beijing in person!