Chińskie nazwy religijne i zabobonne - Digital Repository of Scientific Institutes

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Title: Chińskie nazwy religijne i zabobonne

Abstract:

In the Chinese culture the relationship between the name and the reality was predominantly regardedneither as formal nor ideal, but as real and very important. The approach to names as to real facts causedthat the Chinese very often expressed their culture-oriented desires by deliberately forming names forthe idea they wanted them to symbolize. Many geographical names have been consciously bestowed inorder to create a good (from the point of view of the name-giver) effect in the future. Such names aregenerally termed as wishful names, commendatory names or benedictory names. Among them, on thebasis of the Chinese place-name material, it is possible to distinguish several different groups: auspiciousnames, religious and superstitious names, eulogizing names and pacifying names. This paperbriefly analyses Chinese names connected with three great religions in China (Confucianism, Taoism,Buddhism) and superstitious names connected with the belief in supernatural forces, gods and goodomens.