Posthumous name
Transcriptions | |
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Revised Romanization | siho |
Transcriptions | |
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Revised Hepburn | shigō/okurigō |
A posthumous name is an honorary
To create a posthumous name, one or more adjectives are inserted before the deceased's title. The name of the state or domain of the owner may be added to avoid ambiguity.
History
Origins
Early mythological rulers such as
In the Zhou dynasty, the posthumous name was usually only one character, such as Wen ('cultured') or Wu ('martial'). Over time, rulers began adding more characters to their ancestors' posthumous names. By the time of the first emperor of Tang, the length had grown to seven characters, which was taxing to pronounce or write. Therefore, emperors after the Tang dynasty are commonly referred to by either their temple name (Tang through Yuan dynasties) or era name (Ming and Qing dynasties), both of which are always two characters long.
Later developments
The use of posthumous names temporarily stopped when emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin dynasty proclaimed it disrespectful for the descendants of emperors to judge their elders by assigning them descriptive titles. The Han dynasty resumed using posthumous names after the fall of the Qin.
Posthumous names were used by non-
Most monarchs inherited the throne and did not give negative posthumous names to the previous monarch. Later monarchs lengthened or changed some names.
General guidelines
Selection
Posthumous names can be praises (褒字) or deprecations (貶字). There are more praises than deprecations, so posthumous names are also commonly called respectful names (尊號; zūnhào) in Chinese.
Format
When combining an emperor's temple name and posthumous name, the temple name is placed first. For example, the Shunzhi Emperor, whose full posthumous title would be "Shizu, Emperor Zhang" (世祖章皇帝), combines his temple name and the last three characters of his posthumous reputation, which is the form most commonly seen in formal documents. Some monarchs' and royal members' posthumous names were extended, such as Hongwu Emperor, Nurhaci, Crown Prince Hyomyeong, Sunjo of Joseon, and Empress Dowager Cixi.
Some monarchs did not follow these guidelines; for example, monarchs of Ju, Chu, and Qi used place names, while some monarchs of Yue had Chinese transliterated posthumous words, and some monarchs of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje had differently styled posthumous names. Some early Japanese monarchs also had Japanese-style posthumous names (和風諡号).
China
Shihao (traditional: 諡號 ; simplified: 谥号 ; pīnyīn: shì hào) is a Chinese term that means posthumous name and title.[4] The names of living Chinese people may be any combination of characters. Most often, posthumous names are chosen from a relatively small list, with their literal meaning eroding as a result.[5]
Format
The Chinese language format for posthumous names is "[state] [adjective] [title]". When translated into English, they take on the format "[title] [adjective] of [state]", such as King Wen of Zhou ('Cultured King of Zhou'), Duke Mu of Qin ('Solemn Duke of Qin'), and King Cheng of Chu ('Accomplished King of Chu'). The literal meaning of the adjective usually needs to be translated.[5]
Recipients
Monarchs and consorts
All Chinese posthumous names for rulers end in one or two of the
Starting with Emperor
The number of characters in posthumous names increased over time. The emperors of the Tang dynasty have posthumous names between 7 and 18 characters, while most in the Qing dynasty have more than 20 characters. For instance, the Shunzhi Emperor's posthumous name has 25 characters.[a] The woman with the longest posthumous name (also 25 characters) is Empress Dowager Cixi;[b] the shortened version of the name was 孝欽顯皇后 ('the Distinguished Empress who was Admirably Filial').[6]
Members of the ruling family
According to the noble system since the
The posthumous name could include more than one character. For example, Prince Shuncheng Lekdehun was posthumously honoured as Prince Shuncheng Gonghui (多罗顺承恭惠郡王). Yinxiang, Prince Yi was granted a posthumous name consisting of 9 characters, Zhongjing chengzhi qinshen lianming xian (忠敬诚直勤慎廉明贤).
Officials
It was also common for people with no hereditary titles, primarily accomplished scholar-officials or ministers, to be given posthumous names by the imperial court. The characters used are mainly the same as those used for emperors. The length, however, was restricted to one or two characters. The posthumous name is sometimes rendered canonization in English, for the scholar-official to Confucianism is considered analogous to the saint in the Catholic Church. However, the process is shorter.
Confucius has been given long posthumous names in almost every prominent dynasty; one of the most commonly used was Zhìshèngxiānshī (至聖先師). Sometimes a person is given a posthumous name not by the court, but by his family or disciples. Such names are private posthumous names (sīshì, 私諡). For example, the sīshì given to Tao Qian was Jìngjié (靖節).
Modern use and discontinuation
The emperors of China continued to receive posthumous names of increasing length as a matter of ritual long after the naming convention had been abandoned in casual speech and writing. The Guangxu Emperor, who died in 1908 and was the last emperor to receive a posthumous name, has a 21-character title: "Emperor Tongtian Chongyun Dazhong Zhizheng Jingwen Weiwu Renxiao Ruizhi Duanjian Kuanqin Jing". Puyi, the last emperor of China, did not receive a posthumous name upon his death in 1967.
Korea
In Silla, every monarch was given the title of wang (Korean: 왕, Chinese: 王; 'king') with two characters in posthumous names from Jijeung of Silla. On the other hand, all posthumous names for kings of Balhae were restricted to one character. Most of the kings of Goryeo and Joseon were more often given temple names than posthumous names, unlike in the dynasties of ancient Korea. All posthumous names for the rulers of Goryeo and Joseon end in two of the characters for Daewang (대왕, 大王; 'great king'). This is a longer name made up of adjectives characteristic of the king's rule.[7][8][9]
Details of the system of posthumous names were recorded during the Joseon dynasty. During the Joseon dynasty, officials discussed and decided on the king's posthumous name five days after the king's funeral. Before his temple and posthumous names were chosen, the deceased king was called Daehaeng daewang (대행대왕, 大行大王). The Ministry of Culture and Education (예조, 禮曹) was in charge of the naming. The Ministry of Culture and Education selected three candidates and reported them to the next king, who chose the name he liked best.
The deposed kings' names were made up of three parts: the temple name (묘호), eulogistic names (존호), and posthumous names (시호). A deposed king was not given any posthumous names with temple names unless reinstated. They were degraded to the rank of a gun (군, 君; 'prince');Yeonsan-gun and Gwanghae-gun are notable examples. Some men did not ascend to the throne in their lifetime but were proclaimed kings after they died by their descendants who became kings. In Joseon, nine men were raised to the status of emeritus kings.
Ruler | Shortened name | Posthumous name | Posthumous name (romanized) |
---|---|---|---|
Gwangjong of Goryeo | Gwangjong | Korean: 홍도 선열 평세 숙헌 의효 강혜 대성 대왕 [c] | Hongdo Seonyeol Pyeongse Sukheon Uihyo Ganghye Daeseong Daewang |
Gojong of Joseon
|
Taehwangje | Korean: 통천 융운 조극 돈륜 정성 광의 명공 대덕 요준 순휘 우모 탕경 응명 입기 지화 신열 외훈 홍업 계기 선력 건행 곤정 영의 홍휴 수강 문헌 무장 인익 정효 태황제 [d] | Tongcheon Yung-un Jogeuk Dollyun Jeongseong Gwang-ui Myeonggong Daedeok Yojun Sunhwi Umo Tanggyeong Eungmyeong Ipgi Jihwa Sinyeol Oehun Hong-eop Gyegi Seonryeok Geonhaeng Gonjeong Yeong-ui Honghyu Sugang Munheon Mujang Inik Jeonghyo Taehwangje |
Modern use
In the Republic of Korea, the
Japan
In Japan, posthumous names are divided into two types: shigō (Japanese: 諡号) and tsuigō (追号).
In addition to the title, Tennō (天皇, 'heavenly sovereign', usually translated as 'emperor') is a part of all Japanese emperors' posthumous names, most of them consisting of two kanji characters, although a few have three. Some names are given several generations later—this is the case for Emperor Jimmu and Emperor Antoku, for example. Others are provided immediately after death, like that Emperor Monmu.
Shigō
A shigō (諡号), or okuri-na (諡), name describes the accomplishments and the virtues of the rulers. There are two styles of emperors' shigō: Chinese or Han style (漢風諡号) and Japanese style (和風諡号).
Chinese-style (Han-style)
- Jinmu Tennō (神武天皇, lit. 'Divine Might') – Emperor Jimmu
- Nintoku Tennō (仁徳天皇, lit. 'Benevolent and Virtuous') – Emperor Nintoku
- Ōjin Tennō (応神天皇, lit. 'Answering the Deities') – Emperor Ōjin
Japanese-style
- Ōhatsuse Wakatake no Sumera-mikoto (大泊瀬幼武天皇) – Emperor Yūryaku, better known by his Chinese-style shigō of Yūryaku Tennō (雄略天皇 , lit. 'Mighty Strategist')
- Nunakuranofutotamashiki no Sumeramikoto (渟中倉太珠敷天皇) – Emperor Bidatsu, better known by his Chinese-style shigō of Bidatsu Tennō (敏達天皇, lit. 'Intelligent and Virtuous')
Tsuigō
Tsuigō names are derived from the name of locations and era names, among others. Those Japanese emperors are also sometimes called teigō (帝号, 'emperor name(s)').
Those who were named after the place where the emperor was born, lived or frequented:
- Saga Tennō (嵯峨天皇) – Emperor Saga, named after a palace (in, 院)
- Ichijō Tennō (一条天皇) – Emperor Ichijō, named after an official residence (tei, 邸)
- Kōmyō Tennō (光明天皇) – Emperor Kōmyō, named after a temple
- Higashiyama Tennō (東山天皇) – Emperor Higashiyama, named after a hill
- Meiji Tennō (明治天皇) – his era name
Those who were named after an emperor whose admirable characteristics resemble those of an earlier one by adding Go (後, lit. 'later') as a prefix to the earlier emperor's name:
- Go-Ichijō Tennō (後一条天皇) – Emperor Go-Ichijō, who was preceded by Emperor Ichijō
- Go-Daigo Tennō (後醍醐天皇) – Emperor Go-Daigo, who was preceded by Emperor Daigo
- Go-Sakuramachi Tennō (後桜町天皇) – Empress Go-Sakuramachi, who was preceded by her father Emperor Sakuramachi
The posthumous name of some emperors was derived from the combination of characters from two previous emperors' posthumous names:
- Empress Genmei[e] + Empress Genshō[f] → Empress Meishō[g]
- Empress Shōtoku[h] + Emperor Kōnin[i] → Emperor Shōkō[j]
Modern use
Official posthumous names are still used in Japan. This tradition began with
Malay world
In the
Other Malay posthumous names include:
- Marhum Kampar (مرحوم كمڤر, lit. 'the late ruler who was buried at Kampar') – Mahmud Shah of Malacca[11]
- Marhum Langgar (مرحوم لڠݢر, lit. 'the late ruler who was buried at Langgar') – Muhammad Shah of Pahang[12]
Thailand
Since the death of King Chulalongkorn in 1910, the king has been named for his reigning era formally used in the Royal Gazette. Some were given posthumous names to elevate their title, such as in the case of King Ananda, who was posthumously titled Phra Athamaramathibodin. Kings Ananda and Bhumibol do not have specific reign names, and other kings, such as Chulalongkorn, are referred to using personal names. Most Thai people never refer to the king by their unique name or the informal Chula Chom Klao, as it is considered disrespectful. The personal name of King Vajiralongkorn will be regarded as casual until his death, when it will be replaced with the reign name Vajilaklao.[citation needed]
Vietnam
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The use of posthumous names ceased in Vietnam with the Khải Định Emperor, who died in 1925.
See also
- Taboo against naming the dead
- Naming customs of East Asia
- Chinese name
- Japanese name
- Korean name
- Thai name
- Malay name
- Vietnamese name
Notes
- ^ Chinese: 體天隆運定統建極英睿欽文顯武大德弘功至仁純孝章皇帝; pinyin: tǐ tiān lóng yùn dìng tǒng jiàn jí yīng ruì qīn wén xiǎn wǔ dà dé hóng gōng zhì rén chún xiào zhāng huángdì (pronunciationⓘ)
- ^ Chinese: 孝欽慈禧端佑康頤昭豫莊誠壽恭欽獻崇熙配天興聖顯皇后; pinyin: xiào qīn cí xǐ duān yòu kāng yí zhāo yù zhuāng chéng shòu gōng qīn xiàn chóng xī pèi tiān xīng shèng xiǎn huánghòu
- ^ Hanja: 弘道宣烈平世肅憲懿孝康惠大成大王
- ^ Hanja: 統天隆運 肇極敦倫 正聖光義 明功大德 堯峻舜徽 禹謨湯敬 應命立紀 至化神烈 巍勳洪業 啓基宣曆 乾行坤定 英毅弘休 壽康文憲 武章仁翼 貞孝太皇帝
- ^ Genmei Tennō (元明天皇)
- ^ Genshō Tennō (元正天皇)
- ^ Meishō Tennō (明正天皇)
- ^ Shōtoku Tennō (称徳天皇)
- ^ Kōnin Tennō (光仁天皇)
- ^ Shōkō Tennō (称光天皇)
References
Citations
- ^ Yiwen Leiju, vols. 014
- ^ 韩侂胄——《宋史》中的一缕冤魂
- ^ 從文臣諡號看明清諡法理論,宋秉仁 Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ shì hào
- ^ a b Nordvall, L. Christian (2020)."The Inconsistent Translation of Posthumous Epithets". Translation Quarterly, no. 96, pp. 69–79.
- )
- ^ "Rediscovering aesthetics of Jongmyo Shrine". Korea Times. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- ^ "Korea: Notes". archontology.org. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- ^ "조선시대 국왕호칭의 종류와 의미 The Kinds and Meaning of King's Name in the Chosun Dynasty". 역사와경계 (in English and Korean) (52). NRF: 46–67. 2004. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- OCLC 959200554.
- ISBN 978-0710-101-37-2
- ISBN 978-0710-101-37-2
Sources
- "Yizhoushu] (in Traditional Chinese).