Chapter 15 Section 6 Features and Research on Place Names in "Hanshu·Geographic Records"

The most important book on place names in the Qin and Han Dynasties is "Hanshu Geography" written by Ban Gu of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Mr. Tan Qixiang called it "an epoch-making masterpiece in the history of geography in my country".The same is true when geography is replaced by toponymy. "Hanshu Geography" not only describes the 103 prefectures and 1587 county-level units under the Western Han Dynasty in AD 2, but also introduces 175 mountain names and 361 names such as Bei, Ze, lake, and pool. and more than 2,200 other place names, with a total of more than 4,500 place names of various types.Many place names recorded in ancient books before the Han Dynasty were interpreted in Han places in the "Han Shu·Geographic Records", so that later people knew their locations.

The change of personnel, the abolishment of counties and counties, and the easier choice of place names have promoted the emphasis and strengthening of the research on the origin and evolution of place names in ancient my country.In our country, the research on the origin and evolution of place names began at the latest in the early 1st century AD, and its representative work is also "Hanshu·Geography".Since then, toponymic studies focusing on the origin and evolution of placenames have continued.Until today, these studies are still an important part of place name research.Therefore, the research on the source and history of place names started from "Hanshu·Geography" has a long history in China and has lasted for about 20 centuries.Its duration is long and the number of place names involved is unparalleled in the world.In fact, the summary discussion on place names can be traced back to an earlier period.This is evidenced by the appearance of the term "place-name" which summarizes the general characteristics of all features and geographical names.

"Hanshu·Geographical Records" has more than 40 interpretations of the origin and evolution of ancient place names.Examples are as follows: Jingzhaoyin Huayin, Taihua Mountain is in the south. Shanyin in Kuaiji County, Kuaiji Mountain is in the south. Ye Yu in Yizhou County, Ye Yuze is in the east. Guazhou, Dunhuang County, grows melons from the ground. Shangcai in Runan County, so Cai Guo. Bashui was called Zishui in ancient times, and Duke Mu of Qin changed its name to show his deeds of hegemony and honor his descendants. This kind of research on the source of place names and the evolution of place names is obviously of great social significance and interesting.