The Art of Naming

Author: Dong Baojun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The original title of this book is "New-compiled Onomatology," which integrates the achievements of several similar books in China. Through tracing the origins of names and the evolution history of the Hundred Surnames, it analyzes and interprets the mysteries of name destiny studies. By applying the Five-Grid Analysis Method and the relationship between the Five Elements, Bagua, and Onomatology, it summarizes the art of naming for individuals and companies, offering great practicality.
Excerpt: The method of naming based on moral pursuit focuses on qualities such as honesty, integrity, kindness to others, willingness to help, humility, tolerance, politeness, etc. Self-discipline and broad-mindedness toward others, diligence and frugality in life, and cautious speech and actions, keeping promises, and maintaining courtesy in words and deeds. It is evident that moral character is one of the important indicators of a person's life value. Due to the profound influence of Confucian culture on the Chinese, when naming to reflect moral qualities, people tend to use Confucian moral standards as the benchmark.
(1) Expressing loyalty and magnanimity
Fang Congyi: Following the way of righteousness. Zhou Yishan: Yishan means righteousness is as heavy as a mountain. Mao Siyi: Siyi means always keeping in mind and paying attention to righteousness. Huang Kecheng: Indicates the importance of being honest and trustworthy.
(2) Expressing humility and integrity
Wang Kegong: Kegong means self-restraint and respect. Sheng Ruyan: Ruyan means being humble toward others, and this person is indeed humble and kind. Yu Kongqian: Kongqian means extremely humble. Yu Dajie: Indicates integrity and upholding great principles. Kong Zhenyuan: Zhenyuan means "zhen" implies loyalty and steadfastness, and "yuan" implies the beginning. Zhenyuan means maintaining original loyalty and detesting compromise and betrayal. Wang Kezhen: Kezhen means preserving the integrity of one's character. Wang Shanglian: Shanglian means upholding integrity and honesty. Cheng Silian: A life of uprightness and incorruptibility. Yu Shilian: Shilian means being honest and incorruptible as an official.
(3) Expressing caution in speech and action
Hansin: The name emphasizes the importance of keeping promises, as a word once spoken is hard to retrieve even with a team of horses. Zha Shanheng: A famous poet, indicating that actions and deeds must be cautious and restrained. Yu Shensi: The meaning is to think thrice before acting, ensuring smooth progress.
(4) Expressing etiquette
Tian Houyi: Houyi means valuing etiquette. Yu Shouli: Shouli means emphasizing etiquette. Guo Shouyi: Adhering to and upholding etiquette. Cheng Duanli: Duanli means thorough etiquette. Shang Chongli: Fully reflects the thought quality of upholding etiquette.
(5) Expressing diligence and frugality
Deng Pu: A Ming Dynasty figure, "pu" means a simple and modest life. Zhang Zhizhi: Implies a simple and unadorned quality. Li Sujie: Means simplicity and cleanliness. Li Keqin: Takes the meaning of diligence and frugality. Ye Yongjian: Means always being frugal and simple. Fang Kejian: Takes the meaning of strictly requiring oneself to be frugal and unadorned.
(6) Reflecting the good moral character, nature, and cultivation of the name giver
Some people name without referring to a specific quality but rather from a general perspective, reflecting the good moral character, nature, and cultivation of the name giver. Gong Zizhen: A famous poet of the late Qing Dynasty, "zizhen" implies self-restraint and humility, showing his character that values self-cultivation. Yu Shengwu: A famous paleographer, originally a professor at Jilin University, "shengwu" also comes from "Xunzi · Encouraging Learning": "I examine myself three times a day." Shengwu means reflecting and self-criticizing one's words, deeds, and thoughts. Cheng Zhengji: "Zhengji" takes the classic "First, rectify oneself before rectifying others," indicating that only by being upright oneself can one demand others to be upright, and only by setting an example can one rectify the root and clear the source. Gao Ruli: A Jin Dynasty figure, styled Yanfu. Li means a whetstone, like sharpening oneself as with a whetstone. Since the Chinese have always valued "de," naming with "de" is also very common. For example: Shen Deqian, Liu Dezhong, Peng Dehuai, Zhu De, Cui Defu, Li De'gao, etc.