How to understand the origin of names, characters and numbers in genealogy?

According to the tradition in China, everyone has a name, a character and a number, which is very complicated. A little carelessness will lead to improper use and make a big mistake.

First, how did the ancients name it?

Fame is accompanied by a person's life, so naming is a matter worthy of attention. Regarding the naming principle of the ancients, "Zuo Zhuan Huan Gong Six Years" wrote: "There are five names, faith, righteousness, image, falsehood and class."

The so-called letters are named after special marks born at birth;

The so-called righteousness is named after the auspicious phenomenon at birth;

The so-called elephant is named after something similar;

The so-called false refers to the name of everything;

The so-called class can take a name similar to its father.

In addition, the ancients also put forward six taboos for naming, namely: not for the country, not for the official, not for the mountain, not for the hidden disease, not for the beast, not for the currency.

Second, the association of names and words is more particular.

The ancients had a kind of "outside name", that is, writing. As the saying goes, "A word is justified, and it will be done." Name them to distinguish each other, and choose words to show their advantages and disadvantages. Many times, "name" and "word" are related.

Coordinate: Words and names have the same meaning or the same meaning, which is a coordinate relationship. Qu Ping, etymology. Guangping said the original text, meaning the same. Monk, the word Yu Zi. Both Dong and Yu refer to cars.

Auxiliary type: words and names have similar meanings, but they are not exactly the same and can complement each other. Lu Ji, the word Shi Heng. The machine and the scale are the stars in the Beidou, and they complement each other. Li Yu, word Li Weng. Dai Li is a symbol of fishermen.

Contradictory: Words and names are associated with opposite meanings. Zhu and Yu. Light is morning and darkness is night. Ji Wang, this word is useless. Achievement and reactive power are just the opposite.

Expansion: Words and names often come from the same sentence with the same meaning, and the meanings of words and names are supplemented or modified. Zhao Yun, Zi Zilong. The Book of Changes said, "Clouds follow dragons and winds follow tigers." A name in a sentence has the same meaning as a word. Yu Qian, the word Ting Yi. "Shangshu" said: "Modesty." In a word, modesty is the premise and interest is the result of modesty.

Extension: The meaning of a word is the extension of the meaning of a name. Li Bai, the words are too white. Taibai refers to Taibai Venus, which is an extension of Taiyi. Du Mu, the word Mu Zhi. Mu Zhi is grazing, which expands the meaning of grazing.

Third, how to use names and words?

Because the ancients paid special attention to etiquette, they were very particular about names and characters. Generally speaking, there are the following principles.

Names are generally used as courtesy names, or as titles of "from top to bottom" or "from small to large". However, it is also useful to use the word "word" to refer to superiors and subordinates, and to show respect for those who are long and few.

It is polite to compliment each other among peers; Only people of the same age who know each other very well will call them by their first names.

When writing a letter or making a phone call, you can call your name, but you can never call your name. In particular, the names of the monarch or his parents or elders should not be mentioned at all, otherwise it would be "disrespectful" or "outrageous"

What number to choose depends on your hobby.

Ancient emperors' honorific names, temple names, posthumous title, year numbers, etc. generally have specific meanings. Among them, posthumous title, for example, has the meaning of making a final conclusion on his life's merits and demerits, and cannot be taken casually. However, the folk selection of numbers is much more random. Except for titles and posthumous title, titles are all produced by hobbies.

Ancient middle and upper class people, especially literati, always liked to give themselves a number to freely express and flaunt their aspirations and feelings. Famous examples are:

Lu You, a patriotic poet who is worried about the world and angry with the vulgar, was ridiculed by the powerful as not obeying the etiquette, and simply called himself "letting loose" to express his contempt for them;

Zheng Sixiao, a native of the Song Dynasty, lived in seclusion in Suzhou after the death of the Song Dynasty, calling himself "Sonan" to show his nostalgia for the Song Dynasty.

Zhu Da, a painter in the late Ming Dynasty, was nicknamed "Badashanren" when he died. The word "Eighth National Congress" is written in series, which seems to cry rather than cry, and seems to laugh rather than laugh, implying danger and distress, and pinning the grief and indignation of missing the old country.

Some numbers are given by others and recognized, such as "nicknames" and "mixed numbers". Very expressive, often a reflection or portrayal of the five senses of the characters.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Bai Xixi was a "doctor with five scorpions" because he was redeemed by the monarch of the State of Qin with five scorpions (black rams) after his surrender to Chu.

The reason why there was a "three-purpose prime minister" in the Song Dynasty was that during his ten years as prime minister, he only did three things: taking orders, accepting orders and transmitting orders.

Black whirlwind Li Feng, leopard head Lin Chong, green-faced beast Yang Zhi, flower monk Lu ... The vivid nickname of Water Margin left a very deep impression on readers.

Fourth, other names

In addition to the above words and numbers, there are many names in history.