The Relationship between Ancient Names and Characters

In ancient times, name and word were two different concepts, which were related to each other, but not exactly the same.

Names are given by parents or elders when a person is born, usually a person's real name or initials. In ancient times, names were usually related to a person's identity, status or family. For example, Cao Cao, whose name is Meng De and Cao Ming, used his own words as an adult to imply that he was virtuous and cultivated.

Words are taken by people themselves when they are adults, or they can be said to be aliases for themselves. It is usually related to one's personality, ambition and pursuit. For example, the words Zhuge Liang, Kong Ming and Wolong are all related to his wisdom and talent. Words can also express a person's expectations or sustenance for himself or others. For example, Li Bai, whose name is Taibai, is called a violet layman. His words and figures all express his pursuit of purity and nobility.

In ancient times, the use of names and characters also had certain rules and occasions. Generally speaking, in formal occasions or written documents, call them by their first names; In daily communication or informal occasions, words are used. At the same time, elders or superiors are generally called by their first names; For peers or subordinates, words are generally used to address them.

The origin of the name:

1. Names are related to ancestor worship. In ancient society, people generally believed that names had mysterious power and could protect a person's smooth development in life and career. So many names have the color of ancestor worship, such as Zu, Zong and Xian. These names express people's admiration and commemoration of their ancestors, and also attach importance to family inheritance.

2. Names are related to cultural traditions. Different nationalities and cultural traditions have their own unique naming methods. For example, the first name of the Han people usually consists of two words, the first word represents the surname and the second word represents the first name. The names of ethnic minorities may contain many words, and the meanings and combinations of these words are related to the cultural traditions of the ethnic groups.

3. Names are related to personal characteristics. In ancient society, people often named a person by observing his appearance, personality, behavior and other characteristics. For example, some people are called heroes because they are tall and powerful, while others are called wise because they are smart. These names reflect people's observation and evaluation, and also describe the characteristics of individuals.