Dictionary of Chinese Name Variants (Vol. 1 & 2 · Comprehensive Volume · Search Volume)

Author: Shang Hengyuan, Sun Anbang (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: This book is a comprehensive reference tool for scholars and enthusiasts of literature and history to retrieve the various names of figures from ancient and modern times. It is divided into two volumes: the upper volume is the comprehensive volume, and the lower volume is the retrieval volume, which complement each other. The names of figures listed in this book generally use common names. Emperors of different dynasties are usually referred to by their posthumous names or temple names; writers and artists are often known by their pen names, artistic names, or aliases. Figures with the same name are arranged in chronological order, with separate descriptions. The book includes approximately 50,000 ancient and modern figures and nearly 100,000 variant names. They either had significant influence in politics, economics, or military affairs; achieved certain accomplishments in fields such as philosophy, literature, history, geography, and science and technology; demonstrated expertise in calligraphy, painting, seal carving, music, or opera; or were renowned for their work in industries such as agriculture, handicrafts, commerce, or medicine, as well as for their hermitage or religious pursuits, with documented evidence. The book carefully selects and includes various variant names such as names, courtesy names, and sobriquets, as well as respectful or honorific titles based on official positions, regional affiliations, or place names, and numerous aliases self-signed by painters and calligraphers on their works.