What do "Gao", "Tai", "Shi", "Cheng", "Sheng" and "Su" in the "temple name" mean?

It can be said that there are only four original temple names. Those who established the foundation are called "Tai" (Taizu Tang, Taizong Taijia), those with high achievements are called "Gao" (Gaozu Wang Hai, Gaozong Wuding), Those who offer sacrifices from generation to generation are called "Shi" (Shizu Pangeng, Shizong Qiejia), and those who resurrect are called "Zhong" (Zhongzong Qieyi). In addition, according to the standard of "the ancestor has merit and the clan has virtue", the title of ancestor or clan is given.

Gaozu

This temple title is usually given to the founding emperor, such as Liu Bang, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty Yang Jian

For example, Li Yuan, Yang Jian, etc., especially Liu Bang, is called Gaozu of the Han Dynasty , but the temple name is also Taizu, why? In fact, as long as you have read the book "Hanshu Detailed Explanation", you will know the inside. The book introduces: "The state that connects the heaven and the earth is the ancestor of Gaozu, and the honorific title is added to it. Although it is the Taizu Temple of Zhaomu, it is also the ancestor of Gaozu." Temple." In other words, Liu Bang is both the emperor of the Han Dynasty and the Taizu of the Han Dynasty, and Taizu is the same as Gaozu. However, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, even the emperor Shi Jingtang had to be worthy of the Gaozu Temple, which seemed a bit ridiculous. Moreover, this period was the season when the temple names of Emperor Gaozu flourished. People like Liu Zhiyuan and others were all named Emperor Gaozu after their death. Even the founder of the small country of Ji'er, which was in a separate corner of the country, frequently used the honor of Emperor Gaozu. Of course, the temple name itself is the business of the royal family and has no direct relationship with the size or territory.

Gaozong

The more interesting thing about history is that those who are posthumously named Gaozong are usually those who caused the decline of the dynasty, or are synonymous with sinisterness and viciousness. The more famous one is Gaozong of the Song Dynasty. , Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty, and Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty. The temple names represent mixed merits and faults. He built the Southern Song Dynasty in the south of the Yangtze River and it was his fault that the situation at that time did not enter the chaotic times like the Southern and Northern Dynasties. However, under the guise of Qin Hui, he eliminated Yue Fei and other great achievements. It was his fault that he was the main general who fought against the Jin Dynasty. However, since the Shaoxing Peace Conference, the economy of the Southern Song Dynasty once surpassed the prosperous period of the Northern Song Dynasty. This period is also called "Shaoxing Zhongxing". Hongli, Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty, was the longest-lived ruler in Chinese history. He created the Qianlong era. However, he was too extravagant, and he was so fond of making great achievements that he created a literary prison. What he left to Jiaqing was a country riddled with holes and extravagance was common. That's why Jiaqing gave him the title of Gaozong. It’s also a mixed success. Yuwen Yun, Emperor Gaozong of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, was a dissolute and immoral man. During his reign, he killed many loyal relatives indiscriminately, so this temple name became a synonym for his viciousness. (The exceptions are Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Wencheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty. In fact, he should be Emperor Shizong.) Emperor Gaozong of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Han Yuan, was extremely dim, which is the actual proof of the efficacious prediction of his father, Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Qi Dynasty, Emperor Qiming, came to power, in addition to massacres of Gao Wu's descendants, He has never done anything decent, and even history books say that he only loves killing.

Taizu

This is the temple name of the founding emperor that has been used on a large scale since the Song and Liao Dynasties

Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty

Before this, emperors had also been given this title for their achievements in founding the country, but it was not on the scale that it was later. Among them, Liu Yilong, Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, was named Taizu, but he was not the founding emperor, which aroused discussion.

Taizong

This is the most important link in the so-called Zhaomu system after Taizu. Historical posthumous titles

Taizong of the Tang Dynasty

Taizong’s posthumous titles include Emperor Mingyuan of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Emperor Ming of the Song Dynasty of the Southern Dynasty, Emperor Jianwen of the Liang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and so on. Song Taizong, Liao Taizong, Jin Taizong, Xia Taizong (Li Deming), Yuan Taizong, Ming Taizong, Qing Taizong, etc. Except for a few individuals such as Emperor Ming of the Song Dynasty and Emperor Jianwen of the Liang Dynasty who could not make a difference, the others were all the leaders and founders of the dynasty. Among them, Li Shimin can be called an emperor through the ages.

Shizu

Generally, it is used as a specific temple name for the founder of the dynasty or the link between the past and the next of the dynasty. There are also those who are the founders, such as Cao Pi of the Three Kingdoms, Sima Yan of the Western Jin Dynasty, and the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty. Kublai Khan and others are all temple names of the ancestors. Mostly because none of them were dynasty founders. Liu Xiu was the ancestor of the Han Dynasty. After that, Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Emperor Xiaowu of the Southern Song Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Southern Qi Dynasty, Emperor Wucheng of the Northern Qi Dynasty, Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty, and Emperor Shizu of the Qing Dynasty basically had this origin.

Shizong

The original meaning of Shizong in layman's terms

Ming Shizong

means that the unification of Xu began from then on and the world was founded from then on. After the death of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che took the temple name Shizong, and the lineage of the Han family began to undergo a new shift from Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. We all know that Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty was originally planning to pass the throne to his eldest son Liu Rong, but it was only because of the estrangement of Princess Guantao. , so that an ordinary Jiaodong King could inherit the throne. The following Sima Shizong of the Jin Dynasty also had the same principle. When Sima Zhao was alive, he often said: The world belongs to King Jing (referring to Sima Shi), and this seat after me belongs to Taofu (referring to his youngest son Sima You). ). It can be seen that without Sima Shi, the Western Jin Dynasty would not have been able to complete Sima Yi's legacy. After the Western Jin Dynasty, the Five Hus and Sixteen Kingdoms were unified, and the Northern Wei Dynasty unified the north. The emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty was Emperor Xuanwu Yuan Ke. This person was an important figure who made Emperor Xiaowen's reform efforts fall short, and was also the initiator of the decline of the Northern Wei Dynasty. However, he had no possibility of becoming a prince. Yes, it was only the original prince Yuan Xun who died unexpectedly that allowed him to take advantage. Because Li Shimin's name was tabooed in the Tang Dynasty, there was no Shizong (there was a Shizong, and he was the father of Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty. After Li Yuan became emperor, he named his father Li Bing the Shizu of the Tang Dynasty. Because he was an ancestor, there was no need to avoid tabooing Li Shimin). The Song Dynasty invaded the Tang Dynasty, so there was no Shizong.

However, if the Song Dynasty is strictly speaking, Song Yingzong should be the Shizong of the Song Dynasty, because starting from him, the Zhenzong line was cut off, and the imperial line was transferred from the Zhenzong line to the descendants of Shang King Zhao Yuanfen. As far as the Southern Song Dynasty is concerned, Xiaozong is also the standard of Sejong, because starting from him, the Taizong line was re-transformed into the Taizu line, which was more important. Everyone is familiar with Shizong of the Ming Dynasty and Shizong of the Qing Dynasty, so I won’t go into details. The reasons are basically the same as above. In addition, everyone knows the story of Zhou Shizong Chai Rong. So I won’t go into details. Jin Shizong and Liao Shizong also have similar meanings. Liao Shizong was the key figure in the return of the Liao imperial line to the lineage of Dongdan King Yelubei, while Jin Shizong was the one who returned the imperial line since Taizu to Zongfu. key figures in the department.

Chengzong

Li Chao, Chengzong of the Southern Tang Dynasty

Bo'er, Chengzong of the Yuan Dynasty, was only a pound of tiemu'er

Aixinjue, Chengzong of the Qing Dynasty Luo Dorgon

Chengzu

Ming Dynasty Chengzu Zhu Di

Saint Ancestor

Tang Sacred Ancestor Li Er

Dachang Zheng Maisi, the Holy Ancestor of the He Kingdom

Zhao Xuanlang, the Holy Ancestor of the Northern Song Dynasty

Aixinjue Luo Xuanye, the Holy Ancestor of the Qing Dynasty

Suzu

Emperor Ming of Jin Sima Shao

Northern Wei Dynasty Wenmu Emperor Yuan Xie

Wu Zhou Suzu Wu Keji

Later Liang Suzu Zhu An

Later Jin Suzu Shi Bin

Liao Su Ancestor Yelu Nilisi

Su Zong

Han Zhang Emperor Liu Jin

Northern Wei Xiaoming Emperor Yuan Xu

The performance of Emperor Xiaozhao of the Northern Qi Dynasty

Li Heng, Emperor Suzong of Tang Dynasty

Wan Yan Po Laishu, Emperor Suzong of Jin Dynasty

[miào hào]

Temple name

The temple name is the name given to the emperor when he is enshrined in the temple. It originated from the Shang Dynasty which valued sacrifice and worship. Initially, not all kings had temple names. Generally, after the death of the king, a dedicated family temple would be built to offer sacrifices. However, after a few generations, the original temple would have to be destroyed and the sacrifices would be merged into the Taimiao Temple. It is called "祧" when it comes to sacrifices in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the "祧" thing has a practical effect. If every king's temple is left behind, there will be difficulties in offering sacrifices to numerous family temples after several generations. The ancestors who have made great contributions to the country and are worthy of eternal sacrifice by their descendants will specially pursue the temple name to see the meaning of erecting a temple for sacrifice forever.

In addition, because the number of characters in the posthumous titles of later emperors has been expanded, and almost all descendants of emperors who take over the throne will give their fathers a posthumous title, the posthumous title cannot actually show the emperor's evaluation, and the temple title has replaced the posthumous title. The number plays the role of sealing the coffin.

It should be noted that some monarchs will have multiple temple names after their death, and the temple names are not unique. This is caused by reasons such as pursuing honors and changing posthumous titles. After the death of the emperor, he was given special names when he established a house to worship in the Ancestral Temple, such as Gaozu, Taizong, etc. Such as: Taizu, Gaozu, Shizu, Shengzu, Taizong, Gaozong, Xianzong, Suzong, etc.