Editing Chinese sovereign (section)

==Monarchical titles==
Chinese monarchs possessed an elaborate set of monarchical titles, both when they were alive and after their death. Based on Chinese historiographical convention, monarchs of China are typically referred to by one of their many titles, although it is not incorrect per se to reference them using other titles that they held. Even though exceptions exist, Chinese rulers until the end of the [[Sui dynasty]] are mainly referred to by their [[posthumous name]]s, monarchs from the [[Tang dynasty]] to the [[Yuan dynasty]] are generally known by their [[temple name]]s, while rulers from the [[Ming dynasty]] onwards are typically known by their [[Chinese era name|era names]]. As some of these titles were used repeatedly throughout history, historians often reference the name of the regime to avoid potential confusion. The same monarchical tradition was adopted throughout the [[Sinosphere|Chinese cultural sphere]].

General format in Mandarin Chinese:
{{block indent|1=Name of regime + regnal/temple/posthumous name}}
{{block indent|1=E.g. {{transliteration|zh|Běi Zhōu Xiàomǐn Dì}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|北周孝閔帝}}), "{{transliteration|zh|Běi Zhōu}}" being the [[Northern Zhou|Northern Zhou dynasty]], while "{{transliteration|zh|Xiàomǐn Dì}}" was the posthumous name of [[Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou|Yuwen Jue]]}}

{{block indent|1=Era name + monarchical rank}}
{{block indent|1=E.g. {{transliteration|zh|Chénghuà Dì}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|成化帝}}), "{{transliteration|zh|Chénghuà}}" being the era name of [[Chenghua Emperor|Zhu Jianshen]], while "{{transliteration|zh|Dì}}" refers to his rank as an emperor}}

===Regnal name===
{{Main|Regnal name#Sinosphere}}

Regnal names ({{lang|zh-Hant|尊號}}; {{transliteration|zh|zūn hào}}) were monarchical titles adopted during the reign of monarchs or after their abdication. Due to [[naming taboo]], regnal names were the most straightforward method Chinese rulers could be referred to during their regimes.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples of regnal names
|-
!Personal name<br/>{{small|(Surname + given name)}}
!Regnal name
!Dynasty
|-
|[[Qin Shi Huang|Ying Zheng]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|嬴政}}
|Shi Huangdi<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|始皇帝}}
|[[Qin dynasty|Qin]]
|-
|[[Wu Zetian|Wu Zhao]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|武曌}}
|Emperor Cishi Yuegu Jinlun Shengshen<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|慈氏越古金輪聖神皇帝}}
|[[Zhou dynasty (690–705)|Wu Zhou]]
|-
|[[Liu Jiyuan]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|劉繼元}}
|Emperor Yingwu<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|英武皇帝}}
|[[Northern Han]]
|-
|[[Emperor Zhenzong|Zhao Heng]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|劉繼元}}
|Emperor Yingtian Zundao Qinming Renxiao<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|應天尊道欽明仁孝皇帝}}
|[[Northern Song dynasty|Northern Song]]
|-
|[[Yelü Dashi]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|耶律大石}}
|Emperor Tianyou<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|天祐皇帝}}
|[[Qara Khitai|Western Liao]]
|-
|[[Kublai Khan|Borjigin Kublai]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|孛兒只斤·忽必烈}}
|Emperor Xiantian Shudao Renwen Yiwu Daguang Xiao<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|憲天述道仁文義武大光孝皇帝}}
|[[Yuan dynasty|Yuan]]
|}

===Era name===
{{Main|Chinese era name}}
{{See also|List of Chinese era names}}

Era names ({{lang|zh-Hant|年號}}; {{transliteration|zh|nián hào}}) were proclaimed by Chinese sovereigns for the purpose of identifying and numbering years since 140 BC, during the reign of the [[Emperor Wu of Han]].<ref name="EraName1">{{cite book|last1=Lü|first1=Zongli|title=Power of the words: Chen prophecy in Chinese politics, AD 265-618|year=2003|publisher=Peter Lang |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvYvAQAAIAAJ&q=era+name+nian+hao+origin|isbn=9783906769561}}</ref><ref name="EraName2">{{cite book|last1=Sogner|first1=Sølvi|title=Making Sense of Global History: The 19th International Congress of the Historical Sciences, Oslo 2000, Commemorative Volume|year=2001|publisher=Universitetsforlaget |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7nsWAQAAIAAJ&q=era+name+china+Korea+Japan+vietnam+making+sense+of+global+history|isbn=9788215001067}}</ref> Strictly speaking, era names were not personal titles of Chinese monarchs per se. However, as most rulers of the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] dynasties adopted only one era name throughout the entirety of their reigns, era names have come to be closely associated with Ming and Qing monarchs, to the extent that they are frequently referenced using their respective era names by historians.

Although a specific era name could be used by one monarch only, there were also many instances in which an era name was used by multiple monarchs, or a monarch could proclaim numerous era names throughout his/her reign. For this reason, it would be tedious for Chinese monarchs before the Ming dynasty to be referred to by their era names.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples of era names
|-
!Personal name<br/>{{small|(Surname + given name)}}
!Era name(s)
!Dynasty
|-
|[[Cao Pi]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|曹丕}}
|Huangchu<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|黃初}}
|[[Cao Wei]]
|-
|[[Fu Jian (337–385)|Fu Jian]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|苻堅}}
|Yongxing<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|永興}}<hr/>Ganlu<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|甘露}}<hr/>Jianyuan<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|建元}}
|[[Former Qin]]
|-
|[[Emperor Jing of Liang|Xiao Fangzhi]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|蕭方智}}
|Shaotai<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|紹泰}}<hr/>Taiping<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|太平}}
|[[Liang dynasty|Liang]]
|-
|[[Liu Yan (emperor)|Liu Yan]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|劉龑}}
|Qianheng<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|乾亨}}<hr/>Bailong<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|白龍}}<hr/>Dayou<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|大有}}
|[[Southern Han]]
|-
|[[Emperor Yizong of Western Xia|Li Liangzuo]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|李諒祚}}
|Yansiningguo<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|延嗣寧國}}<hr/>Tianyouchuisheng<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|天祐垂聖}}<hr/>Fushengchengdao<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|福聖承道}}<hr/>Duodu<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|奲都}}<hr/>Gonghua<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|拱化}}
|[[Western Xia]]
|-
|[[Xuande Emperor|Zhu Zhanji]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|朱瞻基}}
|Xuande<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|宣德}}
|[[Ming dynasty|Ming]]
|}

===Temple name===
{{Main|Temple name}}

Temple names ({{lang|zh-Hant|廟號}}; {{transliteration|zh|miào hào}}) were accorded to Chinese monarchs after their death, for the purpose of [[Ancestor veneration in China|ancestor worship]]. Temple names consisted of two or three [[Chinese characters]], with the last word being either {{transliteration|zh|zǔ}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|祖}}; "progenitor") or {{transliteration|zh|zōng}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|宗}}; "ancestor").

{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples of temple names
|-
!Personal name<br/>{{small|(Surname + given name)}}
!Temple name
!Dynasty
|-
|[[Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei|Yuan Ziyou]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|元子攸}}
|Jingzong<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|敬宗}}
|[[Northern Wei]]
|-
|[[Emperor Wen of Sui|Yang Jian]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|楊堅}}
|Gaozu<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|高祖}}
|[[Sui dynasty|Sui]]
|-
|[[Emperor Ruizong of Tang|Li Dan]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|李旦}}
|Ruizong<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|睿宗}}
|[[Tang dynasty|Tang]]
|-
|[[Wang Jipeng]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|王繼鵬}}
|Kangzong<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|康宗}}
|[[Min Kingdom|Min]]
|-
|[[Emperor Taizong of Jin|Wanyan Sheng]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|完顏晟}}
|Taizong<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|太宗}}
|[[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)|Jin]]
|-
|[[Kangxi Emperor|Aisin Gioro Xuanye]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|愛新覺羅·玄燁}}
|Shengzu<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|聖祖}}
|[[Qing dynasty|Qing]]
|}

===Posthumous name===
{{Main|Posthumous name}}
{{See also|List of posthumous names}}

Posthumous names ({{lang|zh-Hant|謚號}}; {{transliteration|zh|shì hào}}) were accorded to Chinese monarchs after their death. These were adjectives originally intended to determine the achievements and moral values, or the lack thereof, of one's life.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples of posthumous names
|-
!Personal name<br/>{{small|(Surname + given name)}}
!Posthumous name
!Dynasty
|-
|[[Duke Huan of Lu|Ji Yun]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|姬允}}
|Duke Huan<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|桓公}}
|[[Lu (state)|Lu]]
|-
|[[King Kaolie of Chu|Mi Wan]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|芈完}}
|King Kaolie<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|考烈王}}
|[[Chu (state)|Chu]]
|-
|[[Emperor He of Han|Liu Zhao]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|劉肇}}
|Emperor Xiaohe<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|孝和皇帝}}
|[[Han dynasty#Eastern Han|Eastern Han]]
|-
|[[Qifu Gangui|Qifu Qiangui]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|乞伏乾歸}}
|Prince Wuyuan<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|武元王}}
|[[Western Qin]]
|-
|[[Zhu Yujian]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|朱聿鍵}}
|Emperor Peitian Zhidao Hongyi Sumu Siwen Liewu Minren Guangxiao Xiang<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|配天至道弘毅肅穆思文烈武敏仁廣孝襄皇帝}}
|[[Southern Ming]]
|-
|[[Guangxu Emperor|Aisin Gioro Zaitian]]<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|愛新覺羅·載湉}}
|Emperor Tongtian Chongyun Dazhong Zhizheng Jingwen Weiwu Renxiao Ruizhi Duanjian Kuanqin Jing<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|同天崇運大中至正經文緯武仁孝睿智端儉寬勤景皇帝}}
|[[Qing dynasty|Qing]]
|}

===Historiographical denomination===
Historians sometimes refer to certain Chinese rulers using generic terms, mostly due to their lack of regnal name, temple name or posthumous name. These terms describe the circumstances of the monarchs and are not officially accorded by the regimes themselves. The monarchical rank held by the rulers is affixed to the back of these adjectives to form the full historiographical denominations. For example, "{{transliteration|zh|Fèidì}}" ({{lang|zh-Hant|廢帝}}) is formed from the amalgamation of "{{transliteration|zh|fèi}}" ({{lang|zh-Hant|廢}}; "deposed") and the abbreviated form of "{{transliteration|zh|huángdì}}" ({{lang|zh-Hant|皇帝}}; "emperor"), thus is used to refer to monarchs who were overthrown.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples of historiographical denominations
|-
!Historiographical term
!Meaning
|-
|{{transliteration|zh|Shào}}<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|少}}
|"Young"
|-
|{{transliteration|zh|Yòu}}<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|幼}}
|"Young"
|-
|{{transliteration|zh|Fèi}}<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|廢}}
|"Deposed"
|-
|{{transliteration|zh|Xùn}}<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|遜}}
|"Abdicated"
|-
|{{transliteration|zh|Mò}}<br/>{{lang|zh-Hant|末}}
|"Final"
|}