Editing Posthumous name (section)

== History ==

===Origins===
Early mythological rulers such as [[Emperor Yao]] were known to have posthumous names.<ref>''Yiwen Leiju'', vols. [[:zh:s:藝文類聚/卷014|014]]</ref> [[Archaeology|Archaeological]] discoveries have shown that the titles of kings as far back as the [[Zhou dynasty]] ({{Circa}}{{Nbsp}}1046 to 256 BC) are posthumous names, as in the cases of [[King Wu of Zhou|King Wu]] and [[King Wen of Zhou|King Wen]]. Posthumous names commonly made tracing linear [[genealogies]] simpler and kept a bloodline apparent.

In the Zhou dynasty, the posthumous name was usually only one character, such as ''Wen'' ('cultured') or ''Wu'' ('martial'). Over time, rulers began adding more characters to their ancestors' posthumous names. By the time of the [[Emperor Gaozu of Tang|first emperor of Tang]], the length had grown to seven characters, which was taxing to pronounce or write. Therefore, emperors after the Tang dynasty are commonly referred to by either their [[temple name]] (Tang through Yuan dynasties) or [[Chinese era name|era name]] (Ming and Qing dynasties), both of which are always two characters long.

===Later developments===
The use of posthumous names temporarily stopped when emperor [[Qin Shi Huang]] of the [[Qin dynasty]] proclaimed it disrespectful for the descendants of emperors to judge their elders by assigning them descriptive titles. The [[Han dynasty]] resumed using posthumous names after the fall of the Qin.

Posthumous names were used by non-[[Han Chinese|Han]] rulers of the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]], [[Nanzhao]], [[Liao dynasty]], [[Western Xia]], [[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)|Jin dynasty]], [[Yuan dynasty]], [[Qing dynasty]], [[Silla]], Japan, and Vietnam. King names of [[Hồng Bàng dynasty]] and [[List of legendary monarchs of Korea#Mahan|Mahan]] followed the posthumous naming but are considered later works. Some rulers, such as [[Wu Zetian]] or rebel leaders, had similarly styled [[Regnal name#Sinosphere|regnal names]] when they were alive.

Most monarchs inherited the throne and did not give negative posthumous names to the previous monarch. Later monarchs lengthened or changed some names. [[Emperor Aizong of Jin]] and the [[Chongzhen Emperor]] were referred to by different names by different people. [[Qin Hui (Song dynasty)|Qin Hui]] of the [[Song dynasty]] had a name with a positive connotation, was then given a negative one, and later had the positive name restored.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121107010033/http://news.xinhuanet.com/xhfk/2010-08/11/c_12433570.htm 韩侂胄——《宋史》中的一缕冤魂]</ref> After the Song dynasty, few received negative names.<ref>[http://www.ncue.edu.tw/~ccource/data/12.doc 從文臣諡號看明清諡法理論，宋秉仁] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930152451/http://www.ncue.edu.tw/~ccource/data/12.doc |date=2007-09-30 }}</ref> In Korea, the disfavored monarchs of the [[Joseon dynasty]] did not receive posthumous names.