Period Chinese Names
Other Historical Feminine Names
Rev. 0, © 2004 Valerie L. Putman (known in the SCA as Yin Mei Li)
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The following table lists historical, feminine names of women born before 1650 for which this author has not yet found the Chinese characters. In most cases, the secondary-source contexts in which these names appear treat Chinese names like Western names (specifically, as labels without regard to their meanings). In most cases, each source identifies a woman only by one Romanized version of one of her names as pronounced in Mandarin, without any indication of each syllable's tone. In some cases, a woman is identified only by an English translation of one of her names. In context, these names are probably ming or tzŭ.
This list is provided because, in the SCA, we do not require that a person understand the basis for her name to register that name. However, it would be difficult to build an authentic, period Chinese persona without knowing the meaning of one’s name(s).
| Wade-Giles | Pinyin | translation | bearer (as identified in ref.) | dates | ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Jade | Empress Big Jade, who figured in downfall of Ming Dynasty | c 1643 | Chou, pp. 67-71 | ||
| Little Jade | Little Jade, empress Big Jade's younger sister | c 1643 | Chou, pp. 67-70 | ||
| Pink Jade | Pink Jade-the-Beautiful, courtesan | 8th C | Lederer, pp. 80-81 | ||
| A Chen | A Zhen | Shen Ah-chen, infant daughter of Shen Chunlieh (Note: It is possible her father added first syllable “A” only in the poems he wrote about her.) | 1616-1619 | Lin, p. 134 | |
| Ch'ang | Chang | Yang Ch'ang, prostitute | Yuan Dyn. (c 1279-1368) | Gulik, p. 253 | |
| Chiang Hsien | Jiang Xian | Wu Chiang-hsien, Emperor Yang-ti's favorite concubine | Sui Dyn. (590-628) | Gulik, pp. 119-120 | |
| Chin Shan | Jin Shan | Chin-shan, maid-servant in a court case | c 600 | Gulik, pp. 153-154 | |
| Ch'ing Chao | Qing Zhao | Li Ch'ing-chao, poetess | 1081-c1140 | Gulik, p. 239 | |
| Chu Chu | Zhu Zhu | Cheng Chu-chu, prostitute | T'ang Dyn. (618-907) | Chou, p. 50 | |
| Fan Hsi | Fan Xi | Fan-hsi, maid-servant in a court case | c 600 | Gulik, pp. 153-154 | |
| Fan Su | Fan Su | Fan-su, a concubine of Po Chu-i | 9th C | Chou, p. 45; Giles, sn Po Chu-i | |
| Fei Yen | Fei Yan | Bu Feiyan, poetess | fl 9th C | McLaren, p. 38 | |
| Hsi Chun | Xi Zhun | princess Hsi-chun, poetess who was married to a Wu-sun tribe chieftain | c 100 BCE | Gulik, p. 192 | |
| Hsiao Hsiao | Xiao Xiao | Su Hsiao-hsiao, prostitute | T'ang Dyn. (618-907) | Chou, p. 52 | |
| Hsiao Ming | Xiao Ming | Hsiao Ming, a concubine of poet Po Chu-i | 9th C | Chou, p. 45; Giles, sn 1654 Po Chu-i | |
| Hsiao Wan | Xiao Wan | Tung Hsia-wan, favorite concubine of Mao Hsiang (Note: Dated by Mao Hsiang’s life [1611-1693], statements that she died at age 26, considerably earlier than he did, and that she was helpful during war years. Apparently war years were associated with Ming Dynasty fall [1644]) | mid-17th C | Gulik, pp. 291-292 | |
| Hsuan Chi | Xuan Ji | Yü Hsüan-chi, courtesan poetess | c 844-c 871 | Gulik, pp. 172,174-175 | |
| Hsueh Ying | Xue Ying | ?Peach Blossom | Hsü Hsüeh-ying, courtesan poetess (Note: This name translation is uncertain.) | T'ang Dyn. (618-907) | Gulik, pp. 172-173 |
| Hung Erh | Hong Er | Du Hong'er, courtesan | before 1575 | McLaren, p. 45 | |
| Hung Tu | Hong Du | Hsüeh Ta'o, courtesan poetess; whose personal name was once Hung Tu | 768-831 | Gulik, pp. 172,175-177; C&W sn Xiu Tao | |
| I An | Yi An | Li Ch'ing-chao, poetess | 1081-c 1140 | Gulik, p. 239; Lin, p. 143 | |
| Luan Luan | Luan Luan | Chao Luan-luan, courtesan poetess | T'ang Dyn. (618-907) | Gulik, p. 172 | |
| Mei Tzu | Mei Zi | Yang Meizi, famous calligrapher and sister of a Sung Dynasty emperor | 11th C | Frankel | |
| Miao Niang | Miao Niang | Miao Niang, apparently another name for Yao-niang | 10th C | Chou, p. 118 | |
| Nu Ying | Nu Ying | Nuying, daughter of Cheng Shang who was examined for royal marriage | c 147 | Lin, p. 226 | |
| Shih Chen | Shi Zhen | Fan Shih-chen, prostitute | Yuan Dyn. (c 1279-1368) | Gulik, p. 253 | |
| Shih Shih | Shi Shi | Li Shih-shih, prostitute | Sung Dyn. (960-1279) | Chou, pp. 58-60 | |
| Shu Chen | Shu Zhen | Zhu Shuzen, poetess | fl 12th C | McLaren, p. 40 | |
| T'ao | Tao | Hsüeh Ta'o, courtesan poetess | 768-831 | Gulik, pp. 172,175-177; C&W sn Xiu Tao; Chou, p. 52; McLaren, p. 42 | |
| Tao Sheng | Dao Sheng | Kuan Tao-sheng, poetess and painter | 1262-1319 | Gulik, p. 257 | |
| Te Yao | De Yao | Deyao, sister of Meng Guang (Note: Same person, discrepant dates for sister Meng Guang [Han vs. Later Han Dynasty].) | 2nd or 10th C | Foster, sn Meng Guang | |
| Tuan Tuan | Duan Duan | Li Tuan-tuan, prostitute | T'ang Dyn. (618-907) | Chou, p. 51 | |
| Tzu Ho | Zi He | Hsu Tzu-ho, prostitute | T'ang Dyn. (618-907) | Chou, p. 57 | |
| Wa | Wa | Li Wa, prostitute | Yuan Dyn. (c 1279-1368) | Gulik, p. 253 | |
| Wen Ch'en | Wen Chen | princess Wen-ch'en, who was sent to Tibet | T'ang Dyn. (618-907) | Gulik, p. 192 | |
| Ya Niang | Ya Niang | Ya-niang, prostitute | T'ang Dyn. (618-907) | Chou, p. 50 | |
| Yang T'ai | Yang Tai | Chao Yang-t'ai, concubine | c 350 | Gulik, p. 112 | |
| Yao Ying | Yao Ying | Yao Ying, a concubine of Yuan Tsai | T'ang Dyn. (618-907) | Chou, p. 45 | |
| Yeh | Ye | Tzu Yeh, poetess | Chin Dyn. (265-420) | M&M, p. 13 | |
| Yen Hsiu | Yan Xiu | Wu Yen-hsiu, cousin of empress Wu | 7th C | Gulik, p. 192 | |
| Yi Shu | Yi Shu | Yishu, original given name of Zhao Feiyan | d 1 | Foster, sn Zhao Feiyan; Giles, sn Chao Fei-yen | |
| Yin | Yin | Li Yin, painter | c 1500 | Frankel |
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This page last updated September 22, 2004. Prepared by Yin Mei Li, who is also Octofoil Herald, and signed with her chop |