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Text丨Shangguan Gu Jiu
Editor丨Shangguan Gu Jiu
Preface
Erecting a monument is a traditional national Xi and a necessary journey in life, and the purpose of erecting a monument is to freeze the existence of the deceased in the long river of time.
People who often sweep tombs should know that different tombstones have different words on them.
Generally, on the tombstone, there will be words such as "therefore, first, obvious, test, and concubine", and many people do not understand what this means.
So, what do they mean, and what are the notable features?
考、妣
In ancient Chinese tombstone culture, the words "Kao" and "妣" carry profound family emotions and cultural connotations, and occupy an important position on the tombstone.
The original meaning of the words "kao" and "妣" were father and mother, respectively, and in ancient contexts they mostly referred to living fathers and mothers, but over time, they gradually departed from their original meanings and became specific words for deceased fathers and mothers. When we see the idiom "such as mourning", it can also be understood as the loss of a father and mother, expressing extreme grief.
On tombstones, "kao" and "妣" usually appear after modifying words such as "therefore", "first", and "xian", and the tombstone culture of ancient China also reflects the concept of marriage at that time.
Usually, husbands and wives will be buried together, and the tombstone will be engraved with the name of the male owner and the name of the female owner, and the name of the male owner will be engraved on the left side and the name of the female owner will be engraved on the right side.
This reflects the idea of "male superiority and inferiority of women" in ancient society, that is, the status of men in the family and in the tomb is usually higher than that of women. However, if the husband and wife do not die at the same time, the cemetery will treat the man and the woman to the right, and they will have their own independent tombstones, and when they are buried together, a separate tombstone will be erected to cultivate family harmony and concern for the relationship between the husband and wife and the continuation of the family.
"Kao" and "妣" are not only simple words, but also important symbols that carry deep family emotions and cultural accumulation. They played a unique role in ancient tombstone cultures, representing remembrance of the deceased, respect for elders, and a focus on family continuity.
old
In traditional Chinese culture, the word "therefore" is widely used to refer to the deceased, and it contains profound cultural connotations and social hierarchies.
Regarding the original meaning of the word "deceased", it does represent the meaning of "deceased" and "deceased". Since the traditional concept of directly mentioning "death" is unlucky, the ancients chose a more euphemistic expression, the word "therefore", to express nostalgia and respect for the deceased.
This usage can still be seen on various occasions today, especially on tombstones, such as the words "so Xian Kao" and "so Xian Yan", and the use of the word "so" is not without restrictions.
Normally, only people who are very close, such as children who erect monuments for their parents, will use the word "therefore" on the tombstone to show mourning and respect.
Other relatives and friends often omit the word "therefore" when erecting monuments for the deceased, and directly use words such as "Xian Kao", "Xian Yan" or "Xian Kao" and "Xian Yan".
In some large families, for individuals with special status, such as the concubines and maids of the patriarch of the family, even if they have a substantial connection with the family, but because the identity is not officially recognized, only the word "therefore" can be used on the tombstone to show distinction, which reflects the strict hierarchy and identity in ancient times.
When someone asks about a deceased person, the other party often uses the word "deceased" to tactfully inform the deceased of the deceased, which not only expresses respect for the deceased, but also reveals a deep feeling of longing for the deceased.
The character "therefore" is not just a simple word in Chinese, it also carries rich cultural and historical information, reflecting the values, social structure and etiquette norms of the Chinese.
First, obviously
In tombstone culture, the choice and use of fonts on tombstones have a deep meaning, and these fonts carry the memory of the family, the nostalgia for the deceased, and the respect for the ancestors. Among them, "xian" and "xian", as common tombstone fonts, have special meanings in traditional Chinese culture.
As one of the common fonts on tombstones, the character "xian" is often used to denote deceased ancestors. In ancient Chinese, it was often used as an honorific title for elders, symbolizing nostalgia and respect for the passing of elders.
In Dream of the Red Chamber, a classic of ancient Chinese literature, when Jia's mother introduced Li Kun to Lin Daiyu, she referred to her as "the eldest sister-in-law of her own clan", which was used to refer to the sister-in-law of the late cousin Jia Zhu's family.
Therefore, the word "xian" is not only a title for ancestors, but also a transmission of family history and memory, in contrast, the meaning of the word "xian" on tombstones is broader and more complex.
Originally, the shape of the character "xian" symbolized a person carefully observing silk in bright sunlight, so its original meaning was obvious, conspicuous, and significant. Over time, it has evolved into the meaning of eminence, magnificence, and nobility.
In tombstone culture, people often use the word "xian" together with the words "kao" and "妣", such as "first show the test" and "first show the woman", to express their good wishes to their deceased parents, hoping that they will live a rich and illustrious life in another world.
However, there are strict rules on the use of the word "xian" in ancient rituals, and generally speaking, the word "xian" can only be engraved on the tombstone if the tomb owner already has a grandson when he is alive.
This is because the ancients believed in the concept of reincarnation, believing that although the human body dies, the soul will enter another world to continue living. Therefore, the word "xian" is used to convey children's best wishes to their deceased parents, hoping that they can also live a happy and prominent life in another world.
The choice of font on the tombstone is not only a simple title or good wishes, but also a reflection of the memory of ancestors and families, as well as a reflection of love and respect for life.
In these ancient fonts, you can feel the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancients and the inheritance of emotions, which also makes tombstone culture an important and unique part of traditional Chinese culture.
Significance
In Chinese funeral culture, tombstone culture plays a pivotal role, and the words on the tombstone not only represent respect for the deceased, but also reflect the respect and inheritance of the family. In order to better meet people's cherishing of tombstone culture and the commemoration of the deceased, people also pay great attention to details and skills in lettering.
In terms of choosing fonts, people usually use orthodox regular script, official script, seal script and other fonts to reflect tradition and solemnity. The regular script font is simple and generous, the official script font is simple and elegant, and the seal script font shows an ancient sense of mystery. When choosing a font size, it is often necessary to adapt to the size of the tombstone and the style of the cemetery, which need to echo and coordinate with each other.
Generally speaking, for black tombstones, people will choose white fonts to reflect respect and piety for the deceased. The combination of black characters on a white background makes the words more clear and enhances the visual effect of the tombstone.
There is also the use of gold and red, however, gold and red are very special colors, which are generally only used by martyrs, representing reverence and praise for heroes.
In addition to the choice of font and color, there are also considerations of the order and number of words, in traditional Chinese culture, the meaning and order of the five characters "so, first, obvious, test, and 妣" have special significance.
There may be some variations in the use of these words in different regions and different families, so it is best to consult a professional or refer to relevant literature before writing a tombstone inscription to avoid misunderstandings and embarrassing situations.
Although tombstone culture has gradually faded out of people's vision in modern society, and some families have begun to experiment with more personalized and innovative ways of commemoration, it is still very important to respect traditions and family values.
Whether it is traditional words or personalized expressions, we must respect the cultural traditions of the deceased and the family, while understanding and respecting the Xi and traditions of the region to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
The significance of the tombstone inscription is not only reflected in the remembrance and commemoration of the deceased, but also an important link between a nation's civilization and spiritual inheritance. By inheriting and carrying forward the tombstone culture, we can keep the deceased alive in their memories, remember history, remember their loved ones, and inherit the excellent traditions and values of the Chinese nation.
epilogue
When writing the tombstones, the choice of these words reflects not only respect and remembrance for the deceased, but also their social status and identity, as well as the traditions and values of the family.
Although these characters have rich connotations and historical backgrounds, in modern society, should we continue to use these traditional expressions? In today's pursuit of modernization and simplicity, how can we respect tradition while still not losing our sense of the times? This is a question worthy of our deep consideration.
In addition, with the development of science and technology and social changes, what changes may occur in the tombstone culture in the future? Will new commemorative methods such as digitization and environmental protection gradually replace traditional tombstones? These questions are still inconclusive, but they are undoubtedly worth exploring and studying.
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