The choice of posthumous title should be based on the Law of the Dead, which stipulates some words with fixed meanings for selection when determining posthumous title. These words can be roughly divided into the following categories: Shang's, that is, praising posthumous title, such as "Wen", indicating that he has the talent of "latitude and longitude" or the character of "erudition" and "attentive inquiry"; "Kang" means "helping the people"; "Ping" means "stressing discipline". Xiayi, that is, critical posthumous title, for example, "Yi" means "internal kindness", "Li" means "violent and heartless", "indiscriminate killing" and "barren land" means "forgetful of politics" and "chaotic outside". Posthumous title, for example, "Han" means "worry at home" and "pregnant" means "kindness and consideration". According to the study of inscriptions on bronze in the Western Zhou Dynasty, before and after arriving in Zhou Muwang, there are many ways to give posthumous title to the deceased with higher status or status. At the beginning of the funeral ceremony, there was only beauty and indifference, and there was no evil. Posthumous title has the distinction between good and evil, the Western Zhou Dynasty and beyond. Zhou Liwang was a greedy monarch, and "China people" started a riot. He fled to Bi (now northeast of Huo County, Shanxi Province) and later died there. "Li" reprimanded him viciously.
In pre-Qin posthumous title, one word was often used, but two or three words were also useful. Use one word, such as: Qin Mugong, Jin Wengong; Use two or three words, such as Wang Chun and Wang Zhao. After Qin Shihuang unified the six countries, he agreed to take the title of "Emperor" as the supreme ruler of the feudal country. At the same time, because posthumous title's decision will form a situation that "the son discusses the father and the minister discusses the monarch", he abolished the funeral law. He claimed to be the first emperor, and there were many descendants, such as II and III. In the Han dynasty, the funeral rites were resumed, and the funeral rites system in this period became more and more strict. The imperial court formally established the post of Da Honglian to manage the legacy of princes. After the Han Dynasty, posthumous title was divided into two houses: the full name of the emperor, posthumous title as Emperor Xiaowen, and filial piety as the last emperor.
The Tang and Song Dynasties were a period of great development of funeral etiquette. On the one hand, funeral ceremony became a tool for feudal emperors' glory and vanity, and at the same time, it also became a means to control ministers' praise and criticism. Wu Zetian set a precedent for the emperor to pay homage to four generations of ancestors, broke the old example of the emperor "one word" posthumous title, and even set a precedent for the emperor to superimpose honorifics before his death. Some emperors can be worshipped several times when they are alive. For example, in the twenty-seventh year of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (AD 739), he was honored as "SHEN WOO born in Yuan Dynasty". The queen can also have an honorific title, later called the emblem. For example, the Tongzhi emperor of the Qing Dynasty honored his biological mother Nora as the empress dowager, and the national emblem was "Cixi". Emblems can also be accumulated in every celebration. At the end of Nora's emblem, there are more than 16 words, "Kindness, kindness, health and respect for the Zhuang people." Posthumous title, the Song Emperor, was more beautiful than the Tang Dynasty, and he also wrote the word "posthumous title" for ministers. It is worth mentioning that Zhao Kuangyin and Song Taizu attached importance to literature and suppressed martial arts, so posthumous title, the minister of Song Dynasty, was proud of the word "literature". At the end of the Song Dynasty, there were more than 40 people in posthumous title who were/kloc-0, and only 20 people were "martial".
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the contents of funeral ceremonies were basically fixed. First of all, the number of posthumous title words for staff at all levels is fixed. For example, posthumous title, Emperor of Ming Dynasty 17, Prince 1, Minister 2; Emperor of Qing Dynasty: 2 1, Prince Shuo: 1, Minister: 2. Secondly, the power of entrustment to the deceased is highly concentrated in the hands of the emperor, which depends on "sacred rule". According to statistics, from the Western Han Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty, there were *** 10473 people who were chased by imperial clan and officials, while there were 5935 people in the Ming Dynasty, accounting for 57% of the total. The emperor's posthumous title was generally announced by the succeeding emperor with the consent of the etiquette officer, and the courtiers' posthumous title was given by the court.
Posthumous title also has a private affair, which is the posthumous title agreed by relatives, students and officials after the death of a famous scholar and local doctor. Privatization began at the weekend and didn't become popular until the Han Dynasty. In ancient times, besides calling the emperor an obituary, posthumous title, a high court minister and scholar, was also a kind of honorific title. Some people's posthumous title has almost become their alias because it is often called by later generations. Such as Yue Wumu (Yue Fei) and Tao Jingjie (Tao Yuanming).
It is generally believed that the temple name began in Shang Dynasty and was inherited by Han Dynasty. The Han dynasty was extremely cautious about chasing temple names, so many emperors didn't have temple names. However, this system was not very strict when it developed to the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been more "sects without emperors" except some "monarchs who perished" and short-lived emperors.
The name of the temple offering sacrifices is usually "Zu" or "Zong". Since the Han Dynasty, the founding emperors were generally called "Taizu" or "Gaozu", such as Emperor Gaozu, Tang Gaozu, Song Taizu and Ming Taizu. The heirs after the founding emperor are generally called "Zong", such as Emperor Taizong, Emperor Taizong, Emperor Taizong and Emperor Taizong. However, there are exceptions. For example, Zhu Xiang replaced Emperor Jianwen of the Ming Dynasty as the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He is not the founding emperor, but his temple name is Ming Chengzu. The emperor shunzhi, the first emperor after the Qing Dynasty, was still regarded as the "ancestor" although he was not the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
When addressing, the temple number is often placed before posthumous title, which together with posthumous title constitutes the full name of the deceased emperor. For example, the full name of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty is Emperor Taizong Xiaowu, and the full name of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty is Gao Wenzu. In the customary address, the emperor who died before the Tang Dynasty is referred to as posthumous title for short, not the temple number; After the Tang Dynasty, due to the appearance of honorific title and posthumous title, honorific title and posthumous title were too long to be called, so they were renamed as temple names. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, because each emperor had only one title (except Ming Yingzong), the Ming and Qing emperors used to call it a title. The emperor calls himself a title, or he can call it when he is alive. Therefore, it is not wrong to call Kangxi and Qianlong "Emperor Kangxi" or "Emperor Qianlong" when they were alive, but it is wrong to call them "saints" (Kangxi Hall) and "Emperor Gaozong" (Qianlong Hall).
When we talk about ancient emperors, such as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Taizong and Emperor Qianlong, we often regard these titles as the same concept, but in fact their expressions are different. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty refers to posthumous title, Emperor Taizong refers to his temple number, and Qianlong refers to his year number.
In addition to their names, emperors in ancient China often had temple names, posthumous title, honorific titles and year numbers. These titles are common in history books.
1) The name of the temple began in the Western Han Dynasty and ended in the Qing Dynasty. It is the name of the feudal emperor when he died in the ancestral temple. Generally, the founding emperor is called Zu, and the successor is called Zong. For example, Zhao Kuangyin in the Song Dynasty was called Taizong, and later Zhao Guangyi was called Taizong. There are also some emperors who called their ancestors. For example, Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty called himself an ancestor, and his son Judy called himself an ancestor. In the Qing Dynasty, Fu Lin (Shunzhi) was called an ancestor, and Michelle Ye (Kangxi) was called a saint. But before the Sui Dynasty, not every emperor had a temple name, because according to the canon system, only people with outstanding literary talent and virtue could worship in the temple. After the Tang Dynasty, every emperor had a temple name.
2) posthumous title posthumous title is a title evaluated by later generations according to the deeds of the deceased, which has the meaning of praise and criticism. As the saying goes, "people who make mistakes are traces of their actions", "big lines are famous, and small lines are famous." Do it for yourself, and you will be born in the world. "posthumous title has an emperor's obituary, which is discussed by the ritual officer; There was a minister's obituary, which was given by the court. There is also the name Shi, who went to posthumous title as a mentor. The death of the emperor appeared in the Western Zhou Dynasty. The Qin dynasty was abolished and the Han dynasty was restored until the late Qing dynasty. Personal grudges may have started in the Eastern Han Dynasty, or in the Spring and Autumn Period. After the Republic of China, the name stone still existed for some time. There are fixed words in the obituary law: love the people, say "Wen", "Wu", "De" and "Yuan", which are beautiful. Killing innocent people, being polite to others and offering sacrifices to ghosts and gods are all evil. There are also expressions of sympathy, sadness and nostalgia. Posthumous title generally uses two words, such as Yue Fei's name is Wu Mu and Harry's name is Jie Zhong.
3) Paying homage to the emperor consists of words expressing respect and praise.
Special title of. Either before or after death. Plus is posthumous title. It is generally believed that honorifics originated in the Tang Dynasty. In fact, as early as the Qin Dynasty unified China, Reese and others once addressed the King of Qin as "Qin Huang". But the meaning of honorific words at this time is not the same as that after Tang Dynasty. Your respectful name begins with a few words. For example, Tang Gaozu tang gaozu's honorific title is "Emperor Xiaoguang, Great Sage God". The farther back, the longer the honorific title. For example, all titles of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty are "Gao Zongfa Tianlong Yun, Sincere and Foresighted, Li Yuanji, Wen Fu Fenwu, Qin Xiaoming Ci, Sheng Jing Di", and besides the temple name "Gao Zong", there are more than 20 words of honorific titles.
4) Year number is the name of feudal emperors over the years, which was initiated by Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty. His first year number was "Jianyuan". In the future, every new monarch in every dynasty will change the title of the year, which is called Yuan Reform. Before the Ming Dynasty, feudal emperors often changed their positions whenever they encountered military events or major auspicious disasters. For example, in the fifty-fourth year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, eleven titles such as Jianyuan, Yuanguang, Yuanshuo, Yuanshou, Ding Yuan, Yuanfeng, Taichu, Tianhan, Taishi, Zhenghe and Hou Yuan were used successively. In his thirty-three years in office, Tang Gaozong used Yonghui, Xianqing, Longshuo, Linde, Ganfeng and Zhang Zong successively. Xianheng, Shangyuan, Yifeng, Tiaolu, Yonglong, Yao Kai, Yongchun and Hongdao have fourteen titles. From Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, including the Ming and Qing Dynasties, every emperor used only one title, regardless of the length of his reign. For example, Ming Taizu only used Hongwu, and the Qing Dynasty only used Qianlong.
In the ancient documents of China, most of the former emperors did not call them by their first names or titles, but called them temple names, posthumous title names or year names. Generally speaking, emperors before the Sui Dynasty are often called posthumous title, such as Emperor Wen of Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of Jin Dynasty, Sui Yangdi and so on. Emperors from Tang Dynasty to Yuan Dynasty are usually called temples, such as Emperor Taizong, Song Renzong and Yuan Yingzong. Emperors in Ming and Qing dynasties often called them titles, such as Jiajing Emperor and Tangxi Emperor. On some specific occasions, they are also called by all their names, namely, temple number, respectful name and posthumous title, such as the name of Qianlong mentioned above. When you meet this full name, you should pay attention to distinguish its temple number, respectful name and posthumous title. Besides, in ancient books, some princes and celebrities are often called posthumous title, not their names. For example, Yue Fei's name is Yue Wumu, and Harry's name is Hai Zhongjie, and so on.
There are four reference books on temple names, posthumous title, honorific titles and titles, namely, History of the 21st Century compiled by Shen Bingzhen in Qing Dynasty, Forgetting the Cheats of Palace Views compiled by Fei Yong in Qing Dynasty, Blackmail Collection of Celebrities in Past Dynasties compiled by Liu Changhua in Qing Dynasty, and various historical chronologies in China, etc.
In our study, we often encounter various titles about feudal emperors, such as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Taizong, Qianlong and so on. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty refers to posthumous title, Emperor Taizong refers to his temple number, and Qianlong refers to his year number.
Nianhao: Nianhao is the name used by ancient feudal emperors in China to record the year. The year number started from Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The most prosperous year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (BC 140) is called the first year of Jianyuan, the second year is called the second year of Jianyuan, and so on. When the new king ascended the throne, he had to change his title. This is called changing the yuan. Wen Tianxiang's "Introduction to Nanlu": "It was the fifth day of summer, and the Yuan Dynasty changed to Jingyan", which was the ultimate guide in the Song Dynasty and the title was changed to Jingyan. The same emperor can also change Yuan when he is in power. For example, the female emperor Wu Zetian reigned for fourteen years and changed the yuan for twelve times. Emperors in the Ming and Qing Dynasties generally did not change to the Yuan Dynasty, and every emperor had a title, so the title was often used to address the emperor. For example, Judy, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, was named Emperor Yongle. The title of Aisingiorro Hongli in Qing Dynasty was Qianlong, known as Emperor Qianlong.
Posthumous title: After the death of ancient emperors, governors, high officials and ministers, the court gave them a title of praising and criticizing good and evil, which was called posthumous title. Yi Zhou Shu's Interpretation of the Law: "The giver, the trace of the line is also; No, the power of the table is also; Car clothes, job badge. So the big line is famous, and the small line gets its name. Those who are for themselves are born in people. " In ancient posthumous title, there were many words, such as (Ping) and (Mu). There are also two words, such as Wang (An) and Zhao (Huiwen). Posthumous title, the emperor of later generations, used more than one word, such as Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty (Wu, Wei Qiang Ruide) and Emperor Yangdi of Sui Dynasty (Yang, Hao Nei, etc.); Others (referring to non-emperors) use more than two words, such as Wenzhong Gong (Wenzhong, Ouyang Xiu) and Zhonglie Gong (Zhonglie, Shi Kefa).
Temple number: after the death of the feudal emperor, it was enshrined in the ancestral hall, called the temple number. "Book of Rites Nine": "Seven temples were given, five were pro-temples, and two were temples ... Sixteen temples were built as beds, each with its own temple name." "The History of Ming Di in the Later Han Dynasty": "A certain teacher played Shangzun Temple as the ancestor." Since the Han Dynasty, the first emperor of each dynasty was generally called Taizong, Gaozu or Sejong, and later successors were called Taizong and Sejong. Before the Tang Dynasty, the dead emperors were generally referred to as posthumous title, such as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Yang Di, without temple names. After the Tang Dynasty, it was renamed the temple name, such as Emperor Taizong and Song Taizu.