宋元時期數目字人名新說——以新發現元代湖州路戶籍文書及宋元碑刻文獻為線索

A New Interpretation on Numerical Names in Song and Yuan Dynasties: Referencing the Latest Discovery of Household Registration Records of Huzhou Lu in Yuan Dynasty and Stele Inscriptions in Song and Yuan Dynasties

數目字人名是中國古人的一類常用人名。宋元時期一般民眾使用的數目字人名是他們的正式人名。這一時期南方地區的數目字人名出現了一種新的結構，即：使用計數單位數字表示輩分的數目字人名。這是宋元時期中國南方地區出現的特殊人名現象，其使用比例很高，至明清時期逐漸減少。相比之下，同期北方地區使用數目字人名的比例較低，且其數目字人名多以一般數目字為主，數目輩分字人名極少。宋元時期南、北方不同的人名現象與南方社會的宗族意識有關，而北方多小家庭結構，由於戰亂及租佃制不發達，不能廣泛地形成宗族組織，宗族意識不如南方強，人名結構也呈現出和南方不同的特點。一般民眾文化水平不高，且參加社會活動的需求較少，可能是他們使用數目輩分字人名的原因之一。

Numerical names were commonly adopted by people in ancient times. In Song and Yuan dynasties, for instance, numerical names were used as official names by the general public. These numerical names gave rise to a new structure in southern China, i.e. numbers that had been used as counting units were adopted to indicate seniority. This is a unique phenomenon in southern China where such usage was fairly common. Subsequently, though, numerical names gradually became less common in Ming and Qing dynasties. By contrast, numerical names were far less common in northern China in Song and Yuan dynasties. The numbers in numerical names were used as general numbers but very rarely as counting units indicating seniority. This north-south divide is the result of clan consciousness in the southern society. Specifically, familial structures in northern China were mostly of smaller scale due to warfare and underdeveloped tenancy system. Given this relatively weaker clan consciousness, clan organizations were therefore not prevalently formed and these factors were reflected in the different naming structure characteristics than the south. A further reason of the general public using numerical names may be attributed to their relatively lower degree of cultural emersion and fewer demands for participating in social activities.