Chapter 32 Section 2 Honorary Titles, Posthumous Posthumous Titles, and Private Posthumous Posthumous Titles
After the death of the emperor, the officials discussed and drafted the posthumous title, which was presented to the new emperor, and after approval, it was implemented.Before the funeral, the posthumous title was not determined, but it was only called "Daxing Emperor", which means the emperor who left forever. "Han Shu·Gao Di Ji" records that after Liu Bang's death, his posthumous title was determined as follows:
The officials said: "The emperor started from the small, turned the troubled times back to the right, and calmed the world. He is the ancestor of the Han Dynasty and has made the highest contribution." The superior is called Emperor Gao.
Yan Shigu commented: "The posthumous title is also the posthumous title." "Zhao Di Ji" also said: "The honorary title is 'Zhao', so it is not appropriate!" Therefore, the posthumous title agreed for the emperor is also called the Shang Zun title.But there is one thing to explain, when some emperors of later generations were still in power, the ministers made up a string of glorious and beautiful words to dedicate to the emperor in order to sing praises, also called Shangzunhao. , This is two different things from discussing posthumous posthumous titles after death.The former is a lifetime name, while the latter is a momentary honor.
Although it is said that "the posthumous posthumous deeds are also traces of deeds", many emperors' posthumous posthumous titles cannot really reflect what he did.For example, Emperor Hui of Jin was an idiot who didn't understand anything. When he heard a toad cry, he asked the people around him, "Does the toad belong to the public or private?" Seeing the people dying of starvation, he asked, "Why don't they eat meat porridge? "("Book of Jin·Hui Di Ji") is such a fool, who actually gave the word "Hui" of "softness and kindness to the people" and "loving the people and kindness"!In fact, has he ever given any "benefit" to the people?The courtiers set the posthumous title for the emperor, so they had to hide it for the venerable, and had to use a cursive pen.
Among the posthumous titles of ancient Chinese emperors, there are also "tactful and ironic".Emperor Sima Dezong of Jin'an, "From young to long, he could not speak. Although the cold and heat change, there is no way to change it. Everything he does is not his own" ("Jin Shu·An Di Ji").Such a vegetative person was posthumously named "An" after death. "Posthumous Posthumous Law" says: "Good harmony does not argue for peace." It's really a pity that the courtiers can chew on words and come up with the word "an"!You can't speak with your mouth, you can't distinguish between cold and heat, and you need people to act.
Some of the last young emperors who were coerced by powerful officials to perform "abdication" were quickly and quietly killed after they performed the "abdication" ceremony.The ceremonial officials in the new dynasty who discussed posthumous posthumous titles were able to consider the wishes of the masters, so they all gave them a decent title.For example, Sima Dewen of Jin was posthumously named Emperor Gong by Liu Song, Liu Zhun of Liu Song was posthumously named Emperor Shun by Qi, Xiao Baorong of Qi was posthumously named Emperor He by Liang, Xiao Fangzhi of Liang was posthumously named Emperor Jing by Chen, and Yu Wenchan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty was posthumously named Emperor Jing by Sui As Emperor Jing, Yang You (you right) of Sui Dynasty was posthumously named Emperor Gong by Tang Dynasty, and so on.These posthumous titles all correspond to the "virtue" of the posthumous recipients, and all of them show that the new dynasty's victory in the world is in accordance with heaven and people.For example, the "Posthumous Posthumous Law" says: "Respecting the virtuous and giving up the good is called respect." Isn't the person who received the Zen abdication either virtuous or good?
Relatively speaking, granting posthumous titles to ministers can reflect more about the deeds of some posthumous recipients.Because when assessing the posthumous title, the presiding officer has no taboos, and the courtiers dare to speak out, and Aqu is less.Wang Bizhi of the Song Dynasty recorded the story of Xia Song's posthumous posthumous title in Volume 1 of "Mian [Sheng Sheng] Shui Yan Tan Lu".After Xia Song's death, Renzong bestowed the posthumous title of Wenzheng.At that time, Liu Chang was in charge of merit examination, and it was the matter of the posthumous posthumous title granted by the minister in charge, so he said in a statement: The posthumous posthumous title given by the minister is the matter of the competent department. Besides, the posthumous title given to Xia Song by your majesty does not conform to the "Posthumous Posthumous Law", why should you bother?" What about violating the authority of the competent authority?Sima Guang also went to discuss the debate, saying: "The most beautiful posthumous posthumous posthumous posthumous title is more beautiful than Wenzheng. Who can be the posthumous posthumous title?" Finally, he changed his posthumous posthumous title to Wenzhuang.This Xia Song colluded with Ding Wei and Wang Qinruo and did many disgraceful things, so it is said that he is not worthy of the posthumous posthumous title of Wenzheng.Volume 4 of Lu You's "Notes on Laoxue'an" also records the posthumous posthumous award by ministers in the Song Dynasty.When Prime Minister Zhao Zhengfu died, Huizong personally went to offer his condolences. His family asked the emperor for grace in three ways, one of which was to ask for the word "正" in his posthumous title.The other two things are all agreed, and the posthumous title is only said to be "to be taken care of" (wait for research), and the posthumous posthumous title is Qing Xian.
Originally from the Wei and Jin Dynasties, posthumous posthumous titles were bestowed by ministers first by the department in charge of assessing the achievements of officials, the Kaogong Division, who provided information on their life and deeds. If there are opinions, they can be discussed and finally agreed upon.Even so, there are still complaints and false public affairs. Volume 5 of "Notes of Lao Xue'an" also records the story about Ouyang Xiu's posthumous posthumous title:
At the beginning of Ouyang Wenzhong's posthumous posthumous title of "Wen", it was matched with Han Wengong (Yu).Chang Yifu Fang and Taichang, late with Wen Zhong lost, it is only said that the merits of the public policy, the word "loyalty" should be added to suppress it.Li Bang made suggestions directly, and he could not be stubborn, and the public opinion was wrong.
Although granting a posthumous posthumous name is less of those exaggerated and untrue words than the honorary title, but if you meet a villain like Chang Zhi (Yifu) who complains with accusations, or makes friends with you, or tries to show favoritism, then you must really do it. There are still difficulties when it comes to "receiving fine names for fine practices" and "receiving big names for great practices".Relatively speaking, it is fairer to have a private posthumous posthumous title.
The posthumous official position is very restricted, and if you are not at the prescribed level, no matter how good your moral character is, you will not get a posthumous title. "Book of Jin·Liu Yi Biography" records that the royal palace was indignant because Liu Yi was not given a posthumous posthumous posthumous posthumous title, and Shang Shu told the emperor:
The officials steal the matter from "Spring and Autumn", and the posthumous posthumous title is the master of the line and not the title of the title. However, the Han and Wei Dynasties are inherited, and the title is not a lieutenant. The general... I hope that the holy world will cite the far-reaching examples of "Spring and Autumn", and change the old limit of nobility, so that the reality of husband's meritorious deeds cannot be replaced by each other, so he will not be unreasonable.
Although the ministers all agreed with the palace theory, the emperor disagreed. As a result, Liu Yiyi was only given the official title of the third division, but no posthumous posthumous title.
The restrictions on bestowing posthumous posthumous titles in the Song Dynasty were more lenient. Some Taoists and some famous hermits in the Northern Song Dynasty gave more posthumous posthumous titles after death, but some of them were not realized until the Southern Song Dynasty.In the Qing Dynasty, posthumous posthumous posthumous titles were granted only to first-rank officials. "Lang Qian's Jiwen Sanbi" said that Li Rongbao "was only a second-rank official when he died, and he was not given a posthumous posthumous title".Some military generals who died for the country were given posthumous titles even though they did not reach the official rank, but that only required the emperor's "special decree".
Precisely because the court bestowed posthumous titles on the basis of official titles, some middle- and lower-level officials with good moral character and outstanding writing skills, as well as scholars and senior scholars who lived in seclusion, could not get posthumous titles, so private posthumous titles appeared among the people.
It is generally believed that private posthumous titles began in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the most famous example is Liu Xiahui.He is a descendant of Prince Zhan from the Duke of Lu, so he took Zhan as his surname, and his name was given the word Qin, which was called Zhan Qin in "Zuo Zhuan·Xi Gong 26 Years".Because he lived in Liuxia, he took Liuxia as his clan.He was just a doctor in charge of litigation and prison, and he was not allowed to ask for posthumous posthumous posthumous titles from the monarch after his death, so relatives and friends gave posthumous posthumous posthumous posthumous titles.Liu Xiang's "Gu Lie Nu Biography Xian Ming Liu Xia Hui's Wife" described this matter as follows:
Now that Liu Xia is dead, the disciples will take him away.The wife said: "Is the virtue of the master? It is not as good as the concubine to know the second and third sons." Nai Yi said: "The master is not cutting down, the master is inexhaustible, the master is honest and harmless to others... Alas, soul The spirit is released! The master's posthumous posthumous title should be Huixi." The disciples obeyed.
From then on, people called Zhanqin Liu Xiahui, which is also known to women and children in later generations as "the Lu man who is still in his arms".
Private posthumous posthumous posthumous posthumous posthumous titles are determined by relatives and friends, disciples, disciples, and admirers. Naturally, there is no overt and secret posthumous struggle for posthumous posthumous titles from the imperial court.Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, the trend of private posthumous titles has flourished.For example, Xia Gong was posthumously named "Xuanming Jun" in "Book of Later Han Wenyuan Biography"; Fan Dan was posthumously named Mr. Zhenjie in "Du Xing Zhuan"; History · Confucian Biography" Jia Tong, his disciples posthumously named him Mr. Cun Dao; The posthumous title is Mr. Qianxiao, etc.
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