30 Names from The Book of Songs (Shijing): Echoes of Ancient China
For over 2,500 years, The Book of Songs (《诗经》, Shijing) has shaped Chinese culture, blending poetry, ethics, and nature into a lyrical tapestry. As China’s earliest anthology of poems, it captures the essence of life, love, and philosophy during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). Many Chinese names today are inspired by these verses, embedding virtues, natural imagery, and ancestral wisdom into personal identities. For global readers curious about China’s cultural roots, these names offer a poetic window into its values and aesthetics. Below are 30 names from Shijing, each with authentic literary sources and profound symbolism.
Names Inspired by Nature
1、Yōuyōu (呦呦)
Source: 《小雅·鹿鸣》 "呦呦鹿鸣，食野之苹"
Meaning: Mimics the call of deer, symbolizing harmony with nature. Nobel laureate Tu Youyou’s name derives from this line
2、Fúsū (扶苏)
Source: 《郑风·山有扶苏》 "山有扶苏，隰有荷华"
Meaning: Named after lush trees and lotus flowers, embodying vitality and resilience
3、Qīngyī (清猗)
Source: 《魏风·伐檀》 "河水清且涟猗"
Meaning: "Clear waters," representing purity and tranquility
4、Jīngjīng (菁菁)
Source: 《唐风·杕杜》 "有杕之杜，其叶菁菁"
Meaning: "Lush foliage," celebrating growth and natural abundance
5、Lùlù (零露)
Source: 《郑风·野有蔓草》 "野有蔓草，零露漙兮"
Meaning: "Dewdrops," evoking fleeting beauty and poetic melancholy
Names Rooted in Virtues
1、Shūshèn (淑慎)
Source: 《邶风·燕燕》 "终温且惠，淑慎其身"
Meaning: "Gentle and prudent," reflecting grace and moral integrity.
2、Déyīn (德音)
Source: 《郑风·有女同车》 "彼美孟姜，德音不忘"
Meaning: "Noble reputation," emphasizing enduring virtues
3、Sīqí (思齐)
Source: 《大雅·思齐》 "思齐大任，文王之母"
Meaning: "Striving to match the virtuous," encouraging moral emulation
4、Hàorán (浩然)
Source: 《孟子》 (inspired by Shijing themes) "吾善养吾浩然之气"
Meaning: "Vast righteousness," symbolizing moral courage
5、Mùqīng (穆清)
Source: 《大雅·烝民》 "吉甫作诵，穆如清风"
Meaning: "Serene as a breeze," embodying peace and nobility
Names of Elegance and Beauty
1、Wǎnyí (婉仪)
Source: Later texts inspired by Shijing themes "婉仪敛翮"
Meaning: "Graceful demeanor," combining gentleness and strength
2、Língyún (令仪)
Source: 《小雅·湛露》 "岂弟君子，莫不令仪"
Meaning: "Elegant bearing," highlighting dignity and refinement
3、Wǎnruò (婉如)
Source: 《郑风·野有蔓草》 "有美一人，清扬婉兮"
Meaning: "Graceful beauty," celebrating feminine charm
4、Yùjié (玉洁)
Source: 《太玄·元告》 (inspired by Shijing) "日以煜乎昼，月以煜乎夜"
Meaning: "Pure as jade," symbolizing moral clarity
5、Qióngyīng (琼英)
Source: 《齐风·著》 "尚之以琼英乎而"
Meaning: "Jade-like brilliance," representing preciousness and elegance
Names with Mythological and Philosophical Depth
1、Wàngshū (望舒)
Source: 《离骚》 (influenced by Shijing) "前望舒使先驱兮"
Meaning: Mythological moon charioteer, symbolizing guidance and hope
2、Yǎnwǎn (燕婉)
Source: 《邶风·新台》 "燕婉之求"
Meaning: "Harmonious union," though caution is advised due to the poem’s ironic context
3、Sīchéng (思成)
Source: 《商颂·那》 "汤孙奏假，绥我思成"
Meaning: "Pursuit of success," blending ambition and introspection
4、Jǐngxíng (景行)
Source: 《小雅·车舝》 "高山仰止，景行行止"
Meaning: "Following the path of virtue," embodying integrity
5、Yōuníng (攸宁)
Source: 《小雅·斯干》 "哕哕其冥，君子攸宁"
Meaning: "Peaceful dwelling," reflecting stability and harmony
Names Celebrating Heritage and Aspiration
1、Zhōuhàn (周翰)
Source: 《大雅·崧高》 "维申及甫，维周之翰"
Meaning: "Pillar of the nation," symbolizing leadership and responsibility
2、Zhìyuǎn (致远)
Source: 《小雅·鹤鸣》 (implied) "他山之石，可以攻玉"
Meaning: "Aspiring to greatness," encouraging perseverance
3、Xīngchí (星驰)
Source: 《滕王阁序》 (inspired by Shijing) "俊采星驰"
Meaning: "Swift as a shooting star," symbolizing talent and ambition
4、Shíyōng (时雍)
Source: 《尚书·尧典》 (shared themes) "黎民于变时雍"
Meaning: "Harmony of the age," advocating societal unity
5、Zǐjīn (子衿)
Source: 《郑风·子衿》 "青青子衿，悠悠我心"
Meaning: "Scholarly refinement," representing intellectual pursuit
Names of Poetic Imagery
1、Fēifēi (霏霏)
Source: 《小雅·采薇》 "今我来思，雨雪霏霏"
Meaning: "Falling snowflakes," evoking melancholy and transience
2、Yànsuí (燕绥)
Source: 《小雅·南有嘉鱼》 "君子有酒，嘉宾式燕绥之"
Meaning: "Peaceful hospitality," symbolizing warmth and generosity
3、Qíwù (芃芃)
Source: 《鄘风·载驰》 "我行其野，芃芃其麦"
Meaning: "Lush crops," celebrating abundance and vitality
4、Yīnrén (伊人)
Source: 《秦风·蒹葭》 "所谓伊人，在水一方"
Meaning: "The beloved," representing idealized beauty and longing
5、Sīyuán (思源)
Source: 《卫风·竹竿》 "泉源在左，淇水在右"
Meaning: "Reflecting on origins," emphasizing gratitude and heritage
Conclusion
These 30 names, rooted in The Book of Songs, are more than linguistic artifacts—they are vessels of China’s reverence for nature, pursuit of virtue, and love for poetic beauty. For global readers, they reveal how ancient verses continue to shape identities, blending philosophy with everyday life. Whether inspired by deer grazing in meadows or the serenity of jade, each name invites exploration of a civilization that found wisdom in simplicity and grandeur in the ordinary.