How do surnames and first names develop in China?

First name, which consists of surname and first name, is also called first name. China's name is in the front and the name is in the back; In some countries, the first name comes first and the last name comes last. Names are something everyone has. It is actually a code name. China's surname is usually one word (called single surname) or two words (called compound surname), and the first name is also composed of one or two words. Legally, you have the right to a name. In divination, it is said that you can tell something from the name.

Every mortal must have a surname and a first name, which are not only the representatives of human symbols, but also the main carriers of human information transmission. Therefore, from ancient times to the present, people cherish their surnames and first names very much, and our surnames and first names have gone through a long process of evolution before they become the "first names" that people are accustomed to today. In ancient China, there was no name at first, but a surname, followed by a name, a character and posthumous title. Ancient people had many names in their lives, and each name had its own purpose and different meanings.

The word "surname" has a left-right structure, from "female" to "life" on the left and from "female" on the right. In matriarchal society, children only know their mothers, but not their fathers. Mother's surname is the only honorific title that can be decided by later generations, as "White Tiger Tong San Gang Liu Ji" said: "In ancient times, there were no three rigid and six disciplines, but the people knew it." Surname is a collective noun, a symbol of a family, or a part of a big family that is closer to a certain blood relationship.

Clans only existed independently before the Han Dynasty. It is a branch of the surname, and it is the clan number. All members of the clan take this clan number as their surname.

"Name" refers to a personal symbol with a personal brand. In the traditional custom of our country, the father decides the "name" one hundred days after the baby is born. According to the Book of Rites, on this day, the mother and the nanny took the baby to the main hall to see the father, and the father solemnly held the child's hand and named him. After the name was decided, the mother and nanny took the child back to the back room and then informed the relatives of the child's name. The father immediately told the news to his friends and reported it to the local governor for naturalization registration. Therefore, the naming ceremony is very grand, and it is the first major event in a child's life. Although this custom has disappeared now, the custom of giving children a hundred years old is still enduring.

From the perspective of the evolution of historical customs, names can be divided into real names, real names, scientific names, Zeng names, pen names and stage names. Birth name, also known as birth name, nickname and fine print, is a person's childhood name. For example, second child, third child, baby, baby and so on. When you grow up, you don't usually need it unless the elders occasionally call the younger generation.