Name Records

Author: Wang Yankun (compilation and annotation)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-08-01
Features: This book collects interesting anecdotes and stories related to ancient names from historical classics, organized into four sections: "Name Jokes," "Name Taboos," "Name Origins," and "Name Stories." It also provides detailed annotations in modern Chinese for each classical short passage included. Scholars are known for their wit, often teasing each other with their names, resulting in many hilarious exchanges. Ancients often avoided names, especially those of the respected, making clever circumventions, mishaps from accidentally mentioning taboo names, cruel jokes about deliberately breaking taboos, and the helplessness of losing one's position due to a name—thus creating a series of human tragedies and comedies. Ancient naming often carried profound meanings. For example, Shen Xu, a (Rudolph) from the Spring and Autumn period, said: "There are five types of names: trustworthiness, righteousness, symbolism, borrowing, and analogy. The given name reflects trustworthiness, the moral name reflects righteousness, the symbolic name reflects analogy, the borrowed name reflects objects, and the class name reflects the father." The reasons behind the names of historical figures recorded in historical texts not only make these figures more vivid and lifelike but also serve as entertaining stories in themselves. As for other interesting anecdotes and stories related to names across generations, they not only amuse readers but often provide insights into the customs and fashions of a particular era. This book compiles the four sections of "Name Jokes," "Name Taboos," "Name Origins," and "Name Stories" into one collection, blending entertainment, knowledge, academic rigor, and reference value. With detailed modern Chinese annotations, it serves as both a source of leisure and a tool for learning ancient Chinese, making it enjoyable for both the educated and the general public, as well as suitable for all ages.