Chapter 33 The third section is about posthumous names

The posthumous title is a title with identification, but because it comes from honoring names and avoiding taboos, it is always respectful when calling their posthumous titles instead of their names or characters.However, it is a different matter to call the posthumous titles of the emperors of the past dynasties. The name of the emperor during his lifetime must be taboo, not only can’t say it orally, but also can’t write it in writing; if the written symbol representing his name must be used, it can be replaced by a homonym or a synonym, and the original character must be used as a last resort, then this The words are not allowed to be complete, and there must be a missing stroke.After he died, he had a posthumous title and a temple title, and people used to call him his posthumous title.Gradually it became a convention.Calling the emperor's posthumous title is optional, passive, not voluntary, so there is no respect at all.There is no difference when we talk about the sage King Wen of Zhou and the fatuous and cruel King You and King Zhou Li.But for some historical figures who have the freedom to choose their titles, the situation is different.

The posthumous title given by the imperial court is more important than character, as long as you reach the official rank of posthumous title, you can get a posthumous title, and as long as someone maintains it, you can get a beautiful posthumous title.For example, many disgraceful figures in the Song Dynasty who entered the biography of treacherous ministers all had very high-sounding posthumous titles. The important accomplice Wan Qi Xie [moqixie Mo Qixie] has the posthumous posthumous title of Zhongjing...but who will call their posthumous titles?Even if Qin Hui later changed his posthumous posthumous title to absurdity, no one paid any attention to it.From ancient to modern times, men, women, old and young are collectively called Qin Hui.Justice is in people's hearts, and bad people don't have posthumous titles.

In the works of people from the Six Dynasties, for example, people are often referred to as officials. For example, Chen Shi [shishi] is called Taiqiu (Chen Zeng was the magistrate of Taiqiu County), Xie An is called Taifu, Wang Dao is called Prime Minister, and Wang Dun is called Wang. General, Ji Kang is Zhongsan (doctor Wei Zhongsan), Wang Xizhi is the right army, and so on.In the Tang Dynasty, when the works involved famous dukes and giants, they often called them titles, such as Fang Xuanling as Liang Gong, Du Ruhui as Lai Gong, Wei Zheng as Zheng Gong, Pei Du and Han Huang as Jin Gong, Yan Zhenqing as Lu Gong, etc.This is common in books such as "Da Tang Xin Yu", "Sui and Tang Jia Hua", "Chao Ye Qian Zai".In the Song Dynasty, in addition to still using the above titles, they were also called the posthumous titles of predecessors.For example, Ouyang Xiu called Lu Zongdao Duke Jian of Lu Su, Zhang Zhibai Duke Wenjie of Zhang Zhibai, Duke Wen Yang of Yang Yi, Duke Sun Xuan of Sun Xi (shishi), Duke Wenzheng of Wang Zeng, Duke Wenjing of Wang Zeng, Duke Wenjing of Li Han...Jiang Xiufu referred to Han Yu as Han Wengong and Yang Yi as Yang Wengong in Jiayou Magazine.In "Dongzhai Jishi", Fan Zhen called Ding Du the Duke of Ding Wenjian, Xue Zhi as the Duke of Xue Jiansu, Wang Zeng as the Duke of Wang Wenzheng, Cai Qi as the Duke of Cai Wenzhong, and Fan Zhongyan as the Duke of Fan Wenzheng...In the notes of the Song Dynasty, it is called the posthumous title Examples are too numerous to enumerate.In the Qing Dynasty, this trend became more popular. As long as you open the books such as Miscellaneous Records and Essays, you will find that you can find them everywhere, so we will not list them any more.

Since the Song Dynasty, the posthumous titles of predecessors have been popular, probably for a reason.It seems a little inappropriate to call some great historical figures who have made great achievements or are extremely admired by people.Because the appellation characters are only used between peers, or when the elders express their closeness and love to the humble.If he is called by another name, it is not commensurate with his status, and it is not solemn, and he does not necessarily have another name.Of course, it can also be called an official position. Although this can reflect the identity of the person, it cannot see the person's conduct and life performance.It seems that for these people, calling them posthumous titles is the best choice.For example, Fan Zhongyan called Fan Wenzhenggong, isn't it true that people can imagine the dedication and righteousness of this ancient statesman who "worry about the world's worries first, and enjoy the world's joy later"?Yue Fei's name Yue Wumu or Yue Zhongwu (later changed his posthumous title to Zhongwu), doesn't it also make people imagine the spirit of this national hero who "served in danger" and bravely resisted foreign aggression?Also, Liu Wenqing, who was called Liu Yong, can also reflect the image of this upright official who has always believed in integrity and good governance. Ji Yun, who is called Ji Wenda, also fully reflects the style of this learned, witty and witty Confucian official.

It can be seen from this that for a great man in history and a great official, calling him a posthumous title can not only show respect, but also reflect his status and life achievements. This is indeed irreplaceable by other titles. Incidentally, before the Ming Dynasty, the emperor was called the temple name instead of the posthumous title.From the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, the folks began to call the year name habitually.Such as Emperor Yongle, Emperor Zhengde, Emperor Jiajing; Emperor Shunzhi, Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Qianlong and so on.This appellation should be a folk creation.

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Notes: As a work of the early Qing Dynasty, "The Crying Lord" already has titles such as "Poor Holy Lord, Chongzhen" and "My Chongzhen Master".Zou Jifu, the cemetery keeper of the Ninth Lou Mansion, called Ming Taizu Lord Hongwu and Chengzu Lord Yongle.