How did ancient monarchs' posthumous titles come about and how were they categorized?

There are three kinds of posthumous names for Chinese emperors: the praiseworthy beautiful posthumous name, the compassionate plain posthumous name, and the pejorative evil posthumous name.

1. Beautiful posthumous names, such as Zhuang, Wu, Wen, Xuan, Xiang, Ming, Rui, Kang, Jing, Yi.

History, most of the emperor's posthumous name is "beautiful posthumous", for example, the emperor has the talent of the sky and the earth, or at least studious, then you can give a "Wen" word (such as Liu Heng, Emperor of Han, Cao Pi, Emperor of Wei, and so on); if the emperor has the ability to If the emperor has a great cause to open up new territories or pacify the chaos, then the posthumous name can be "Wu" (such as the Warring States period Zhao Wuling Wang, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty Liu Che, Emperor Wu of Wei Dynasty Cao Cao, etc.);

2, Ping posthumous name, such as: wai, mourning, mourning, Min, Si, Zhen, a little sympathetic meaning.

Among the "plain posthumous names", if an emperor's posthumous name is "Huai", it probably means that he was kind, but had little ability, and might have died a short death; if it is "愍", it means that the emperor was a good person, but had little ability. If it is "愍", it means that the country was in trouble during the reign of the emperor, and although the trouble was not caused by the emperor's mediocrity, there was nothing he could do to save the country, so the future generations can only express their regret and sympathy for him.

3, bad posthumous, such as: Li, Ling, Yang, all contain negative meaning.

The emperor was given a "bad posthumous", generally violent and slow without relatives is called "Li", such as the beginning of the Zhou Li Wang. Other more common bad posthumous names are "Yang" (Emperor Yang of Sui), "哀" (Duke Ai of Lu), "幽" (King Yu of Zhou), "灵" (Duke Ling of Wei), "" (Duke Ling of Wei), "" (Duke Ling of Wei), "" (Duke Ling of Wei).

Posthumous title is the dead emperor, ministers, aristocrats (including other high-status people) according to their life? After evaluation, it is given a title of praise or criticism or sympathy, which began in the Western Zhou Dynasty.

Zhou Gongdan and Jiang Ziya had great merit in the Zhou family, after death was awarded a posthumous title. This is the beginning of the posthumous law. The Rites of the Zhou say, "A posthumous title is given in small mourning." Small mourning, a period of time after death. The Book of the Zhou. Posthumous law ":" Posthumous, line of? also. A great deed receives a great name, and a fine deed receives a fine name. Actions are out of oneself, and names are out of others."

There are two main points in the posthumous system: first, the posthumous name should be in line with the deceased's persona, and second, the posthumous name is assessed and granted by others after death. A monarch's posthumous title is determined by a ceremonial official and announced by the reigning emperor, while a minister's posthumous title is bestowed by the court. Posthumous titles are judgmental and are equivalent to a casket.

expanded information

Emperor's posthumous resolution:

1, Chong: can repair its official said Chong

2, big: then the sky law Yao said big

3, Cong: sound into the heart of the Tong said Cong; near the words must be detected said Cong

4, up to: the quality of straight and good righteousness is said to be up to; dredge through the middle of the reasoning that is said to be up to

5, punch: young young in the position is said to be punch; young young short of folding is said to be punch

6, Dai: love the people is good, the good reason is said to be the best.

6, Dai: love the people good governance is said to Dai; ceremony does not offend is said to Dai

7, than: choose good and follow is said to be than; the ministry of the king has a party is said to be than

8, swings: good within the far rituals is said to be swinging; crazy and no basis is said to be swinging

9, mourning: early orphaned short folding is said to be mourning; respectful benevolence is said to be mourning; the virtue of the not build is said to be mourning; by the difficulties has been very said to be mourning; the execution of the death of a non-righteousness is said to be mourning

10, mourning: wantonly line of labor sacrifice is said to mourn; Early death in middle age is said to mourn; fear from the place is said to mourn; not in the early death is said to mourn

11, sincere: pure virtue with the sky is said to be sincere; from the road is said to be sincere; push the heart of the Royal Roads is said to be sincere; by virtue of the pure one is said to be sincere; Ming Xin rate is said to be sincere; gizzard Duo no deception is said to be sincere; the real heart of the Shi Hui is said to be sincere

12, pure: in the right and pure is said to be pure; see the vegetarian embracing simplicity is said to be pure; the security of the one heart is said to be pure; the will consider the faithful is said to be pure; to the sincerity of the interest is said to be pure; the internal and A said pure; governance essence said pure

People's Daily Online - Yang Guang for what was called Emperor Yang? Reveal the origin of the ancient emperors posthumous name

Baidu Encyclopedia - Posthumous name