The Yuan Dynasty was a dynasty full of legends. It is not only known for its vast territory and strong military strength, but also because of its unique ethnic policy, which has aroused endless reverie in later generations.
Among them, the peculiar system of the Han people who could not choose their own names during the Yuan Dynasty was a different scenery in that period of history.
Ordinary people don't deserve names
It may be hard to imagine that under the rule of the Yuan Dynasty, the Han people did not even have the right to choose a name for themselves. Instead of giving their children a name with good wishes, they are forced to use the sum of the ages of their parents as their child's name. This seemingly absurd system is a true portrayal of the life of the Han people in that era.
Yu Yue's "The Complete Book of Spring in the Hall" records this peculiar phenomenon in detail. The book wrote: "In the system of the Yuan Dynasty, the common people did not have to be named, and they were only named after the total number of lines and the years of their parents. This means that in an ordinary family, if the father is twenty-four years old and the mother is twenty-two years old, their children's names can only be cold "four or six". Such a name, which has neither personality nor emotion, is more like a cruel shackle that binds the hearts of the Han people.
Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang is no exception, his original name: Zhu Chongba
Even Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang is no exception, Zhu Yuanzhang's name "Zhu Chongba" comes from his ranking in the family. Zhu Yuanzhang is the fourth in the family and the eighth among the brothers in the family, so he is called the "heavy eighth". This was a naming custom during the Yuan Dynasty, especially in the homes of ordinary people. In the Yuan Dynasty, if the common people did not become officials or go to school, they could not have their own names, but could only be named by the sum of the ages of their parents or the date of birth. Zhu Yuanzhang's family was born in poverty, his father is Zhu Shizhen, and his mother is Chen. Therefore, he used this ranking-based name "Zhu Chongba" in his early years.
Later, Zhu Yuanzhang joined the army that rebelled against the Yuan Dynasty and showed outstanding talent and leadership in the army. He fought bravely, was witty and flexible, and was soon appreciated by the general Guo Zixing. Guo Zixing not only promoted him, but also married his adopted daughter Ma to him. As his status in the army increased, he needed a more formal and majestic name, and the name "Zhu Yuanzhang" came into being. Among them, "Zhang" is a type of ancient jade, which means sharpness and dignity, and "Yuan" represents the Yuan Dynasty that he rebelled against. Taken together, the name "Zhu Yuanzhang" expresses his determination to destroy the Yuan Dynasty and his ambition to establish a new dynasty.
Why did the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty impose such a strict naming system?
The answer is simple, it is to strengthen the control of the Han people and prevent them from forming a resistance force. In those days, a name was not just a person's code name, but a status symbol. Without a name, it means no identity, no dignity. In this way, the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty tried to erode the national consciousness of the Han people and make them tame obedient people.
However, oppression and injustice always provoke a spark of resistance. Although the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty controlled the Han people very strictly, the spirit of resistance of the Han people was never extinguished. In their own way, they are fighting against this era of injustice. Some people secretly gave themselves a name to express their desire for freedom, while others expressed their dissatisfaction with the rule of the Yuan Dynasty in various ways in their daily lives.