A Chronicle of Chinese Place Names -(Illustrated Edition)

Author: Hu Linfu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Among the more than 500 county names in Shaanxi Province from ancient to modern times, there are 8 county names that have survived for over 2,000 years. Among these, 3 (Lantian, Wugong, Huayin) are named based on geographical features, while 5 (Zheng County, Nanzheng, Hu County, Mei County, Chang'an) are named based on human-related factors. As for the 18 county names that have been in use for over 1,500 years, 33 county names that have been in use for over 1,000 years, and 77 county names that have been in use for over 500 years, the majority are named based on geographical features, accounting for 61.1%, 57.6%, and 53.2% respectively, all exceeding half. However, among the 116 county names in use for over a hundred years, the number of those named based on geographical features and human-related factors is roughly equal. Therefore, while there are many ways to name counties, those with broader significance and long-term applicability tend to be more effective when named based on geographical features. Naming counties after mountains or water is particularly prominent in terms of universality and stability. This is true not only in Shaanxi but also in provinces such as Shanxi, Liaoning, Fujian, Hunan, Henan, and Zhejiang.
In Shanxi Province, there are 564 ancient and modern county names, among which the most are named after natural features like mountains and water, totaling 159, accounting for nearly one-third of the total.
Liaoning Province is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with rugged terrain, famous mountains, major rivers, vast plains, and rugged hills and mountains. An analysis of its 250 ancient and modern county names shows that names based on objective natural geographical entities have more vitality, while names related to rulers are short-lived.
An analysis of more than 120 ancient and modern county names in Fujian Province also indicates that county names named after local geographical features or original village names tend to have longer lifespans and are more stable. In contrast, county names with strong feudal colors are either less widespread or have been replaced by other names.
Among the 242 ancient and modern county names in Hunan Province, 113 are named after natural geographical factors, accounting for 47% of the total; 65 are named after political and social factors, accounting for 27%; and the remaining 64 are named after continuation, adoption of original names, or unclear origins, accounting for 26%.
These figures show that among all ancient and modern county names, those named after natural geographical factors are the largest in number, accounting for nearly half of the total, and the most retained names (45) account for 48% of Hunan's current county names. Those named after political and social factors, though not few in number, are more likely to be phased out, with only 19 remaining today, accounting for only 20% of Hunan's current county names.
This is because county names named after natural geographical factors have distinct local characteristics and are less prone to repetition or similarity, making them less affected by social changes and thus more stable. Especially those with mountains, rivers, lakes, and springs as their backing have stronger geographical presence and are generally able to endure for long periods. In contrast, county names named after political and social factors often lack local characteristics, are prone to repetition and similarity, and are more susceptible to political impacts, leading to frequent name changes and shorter lifespans.
The short lifespan of politically named places can also be seen in Henan Province. Since the early 20th century, bourgeois revolutionary ideas have spread across Central China. During the time when General Feng Yuxiang served as the governor of Henan Province in 1927,