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Post by ginagaladriel on Nov 12, 2016 13:26:50 GMT -5
Good afternoon everyone,
Hope you are all doing well!
I have a fast question, I (now) know that Chinese males could have more than one known name, but which of their names is the proper one to use for their headstone?
I ask this, because I see that my g-grandfather's Hao name was used for his headstone, in addition to the romanization in Spanish of his Hui name, if I were to go to China to find my g-g-grandather's name which name should I look for? (this is jut a hypothetical question as I have no date set for a visit, nor the money saved, but I do know that my g-g-grandfather's body was taken back to China to his birth town for a proper burial)
Thanks in advance,
Gina
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Post by gckimm on Nov 12, 2016 13:58:24 GMT -5
Hi Gina: I would advise you to find out as many names as you can for each ancestor and take all of them with you. Headstones of overseas Chinese, certainly in the United States, often list more than one name but I think this is less common in China, especially with older graves. The most important name for headstones and genealogies would be the name associated with the poem that identifies the generations of a clan. All men in a certain generation would use one character from the poem and in that way identify himself as a member of that generation. This name would usually be the zi/gee 字 or hao/ho 號, with the latter also commonly being the name taken at marriage in the Siyi area of Guangdong Province.
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Post by ginagaladriel on Nov 12, 2016 15:05:02 GMT -5
Thank you as always Greg!
from my g-g-grandfather I have three names (as you, kindly, transcribed them for me: 鄭 Siu Jing / Zhaozhen 兆貞 . Goon Cheung/Guanxiang (諱 / Hui name) 官祥, Daht Yin/Dayan (號 / Hao Name) 達延 ), known as Chen Kun Chong [or just Chen Chong in Panama], but from his father I only have one, same with all of my g-g-granduncles. I would like to be able to at least see my g-g-grandather's grave, since as far as I know, my g-grandfather Chee Faht, took his body to China as per his wishes (and costumes).
I have learned a lot about costumes and found great friends in this forum (which have helped me in more ways that I could ever imagine), for which I will be eternally grateful!
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