Chapter 2 The Evolution of Chapter 1 Naming

According to "Book of Rites Nei Ze", in the aristocratic families of the Zhou Dynasty, after giving birth to a boy, the father would name it when he was three months old.In later generations, naming a baby is no longer limited to the age of three months, and it does not necessarily have to be named by the father, it may be the grandfather, or it may be the mother or grandmother.Because this name originated in childhood, it is called a nickname, also called a baby name, and in some areas there is also a baby name.As the name suggests, that is the name when I was a child. To put it more vividly, it is the name when I was breastfeeding.Later generations advocated literature and pursued elegance, so the nickname was called "small characters" in writing.

Judging from the pre-Qin literature, there was no nickname at that time.Without a small name, there is no way to say a big name.It was about a one-time naming then.Many noble names, some very vulgar.For example, Duke Cheng of Lu was named Heigong (gonggong), Duke Wen of Jin was named Chonger, Duke Huan of Qi was named Xiaobai, Duke Zhengzhuang was named Wu (wuwu), Duke Chen Xuan was named pestle (chuchu), and Duke Cheng of Jin was named Heiyu. Like the nickname of later generations.However, Duke Huan of Qi called himself "Xiaobai" to the envoys of Emperor Zhou ("Zuo Zhuan Nine Years of Duke Xi"), and Duke Wen of Jin also called himself "Chong Er" to the envoys of Emperor Zhou ("Zuo Zhuan Nine Years of Duke Xi"). The book never said what their later names were, so it can be seen that there is only one name.

People's names are divided into big and small, which probably started in the Qin and Han Dynasties. "Historical Records Gaozu Benji" said that Han Gaozu "surnamed Liu, styled Ji." Sima Zhen's "Suo Yin" said: "According to: Han Gaozu's eldest brother was named Bo, and his second name was Zhong. If there is no other name, then 'Ji' is also named. Therefore, Xiang Dai said: "Gaozu Xiaozi Ji, ascended the throne and changed his name to Bang." It seems that Xiang Dai has a point.The two elder brothers are named Bo and Zhong, how could "Ji" become a character?This is obviously because after being rich and honored, the "little three" (or "little four", there may be an older brother named "uncle") is indecent, so he followed the example of the noble man and named it "Bang" and named it "Ji". Character.Fortunately, some aristocrats in the pre-Qin Dynasty also used the characters of Xingdi to write their characters, so it was quite logical to do so.Only the biography of Sima Xiangru, a great writer, clearly records that when he was a child, "his family name was Quanzi", and when he grew up, "Mu Lin Xiangru changed his name to Xiangru" ("Historical Records Biography of Sima Xiangru").This should be the earliest record about nicknames.As for why the nickname is so ugly, "Suoyin" quoted Meng Kang as an explanation: "Love is the word." This cultural mentality of naming has continued to this day.In order to show their closeness to their children, parents often choose ugly and vulgar nicknames, such as Goudan, Tie Dan, Ah Gou, and Ah Niu.In order to live a long life, there are still people called "dog leftovers".Meaning: The dog can't eat the leftovers.

At the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, many celebrities had nicknames.For example, Cao Cao's nickname is A Man, and Liu Bei's son and later master Liu Chan's nickname is A Dou.Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, literati and scholars still like to use nicknames, which is concentrated in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.At that time, the literati and bureaucrats valued sincerity and liberty, so there was a trend of using nicknames.This will not work in later generations.Not to mention calling adults by nicknames, even older children may feel ashamed and even displeased if they call them by nicknames in front of their classmates and friends.Some people from humble backgrounds only have a nickname, and they find it indecent after they get rich, so they try to get rid of it.Like Zhang Jing'er in the Southern Dynasties, his original name was Gou'er (that is, Gou'er). After he became rich, he added a word next to "Gou" and became "Jing".Ma Xianwan was originally called Immortal Maid, but after getting rich, she changed her name to "Pian".Nicknames can only be used in the family and are used in childhood, and it is not appropriate to use nicknames when they grow up.

In the old days, when people reached the school age, they had to change their names to the outside world.For example, in terms of small names, it is called daimyo; in terms of reading, it is called scientific name; and in terms of writing into government household registration and paying food and errands, it is called official name; After becoming a Jinshi and becoming an official, it is also called an official seal, also called an official taboo.Therefore, in the old days, "official seal" and "official taboo" became honorific names for other people's names. After having a big name, a small name has completed its historical mission.Especially after marrying a wife and having children, nicknames are kept secret and become somewhat mysterious, even parents often use other pronouns, such as: eldest, second child, etc.

In feudal society, most women had only one name, which was a nickname.This name is not easy to say to people.After marriage, this name is "secret" in the husband's family.This is the reason why Zhao Chong and Li Guizhi didn't know their wife's name in the Peking opera "The Story of the Horse Trader" after several months of marriage.When Zhao Chong wrote a complaint for his wife, he asked her name, but she shyly refused to say it.It is difficult for young people today to understand this. In "Strange Tales from a Liaozhai Studio·Bai Yuyu", Wu Mengxian didn't know the name of her adoptive mother. In "Wu Tong", the dragon girl reprimanded the female slave for calling out her small characters in front of Jin Sheng. Recalling the Moon in the Han Dynasty · Chanting the Small Characters of Beautiful People" all reflect this situation.