What is the name of the emperor's son?
In ancient Chinese feudal society, the emperor's children had a unique title system. These titles not only reflected the majesty of the imperial power, but also reflected the strict hierarchy. The following is a detailed introduction to the titles of the emperor's sons, combined with structured data and historical background analysis.
1. The main titles of the emperor’s son
| title | Scope of application | Historical evolution |
|---|---|---|
| prince | a collective name for all the emperor's sons | Used from Zhou Dynasty to Qing Dynasty |
| Prince | The emperor's designated heir to the throne | Already appeared during the Shang and Zhou dynasties |
| Prince | The highest title awarded by the emperor to his son | Beginning in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties |
| Brother | Common titles for princes in the Qing Dynasty | Only seen in Qing Dynasty |
2. Characteristics of titles in different periods
1.Pre-Qin period: In the Zhou Dynasty, it was called "Prince", as in "The Book of Songs" in which "Prince raised an army". The title of prince has appeared, but the system is not perfect yet.
2.Han and Tang Dynasties: Form a complete system of "Prince-Prince-Kings". Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty first established concubine grades such as "Zhaoyi", and the identity of the prince's mother affected his status.
| dynasty | Characteristic title | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Han Dynasty | prince, prince, vassal king | Implement the order of favor to weaken the kings |
| Tang Dynasty | prince, prince | Classified by restaurant size |
| Ming Dynasty | vassal king | The place where the adult prince controls the vassal |
3.Song and Yuan Dynasties: Common names such as "King" appear, but the official system still uses the princely system. Influenced by Mongolian culture, the Yuan Dynasty had special titles such as "Taiji".
4.Ming and Qing Dynasties: In the Ming Dynasty, the power of vassal kings was strictly restricted. In the Qing Dynasty, "Age" became a common title, and the crown prince was renamed "Crown Prince".
3. The political meaning behind the title
1.The Sensitivity of the Title of Prince: There have been many incidents of "deposing the crown prince" in history, such as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty deposing Liu Zhi, Kangxi deposing Yinfeng, etc. Each change caused turmoil in the court.
2.The relationship between title and real power:
| Rank of title | Treatment standards | power limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Prince | A fortune of ten thousand stones | Not to interfere in government affairs |
| Prince | Salary two thousand stones per year | No military power |
| Baylor | Eight hundred stones per year | Qing Dynasty only |
3.Title changes during special periods: During the Wu Zetian period, the prince was renamed "emperor's heir", and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was called "young master", reflecting the characteristics of the regime.
4. Research on titles from a modern perspective
In recent years, the popularity of Qing palace dramas has made titles such as "Elder Brother" widely known, but you need to pay attention to:
1. Historically, ranking titles such as "Fourth Brother" were only used in informal situations, and titles must be used in formal documents.
2. The titles given to the prince's mother in different dynasties (such as "concubine" and "legacy") directly affect the status of the prince. This is a detail that is often ignored in modern film and television works.
3. The latest archaeological discoveries show that the Qin Dynasty may have used "gongzi" to refer to princes, such as Gongzi Fusu, which is obviously different from the titles of later generations.
5. Extended knowledge: Princess’ title system
| title | meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| princess | Common name for the emperor's daughter | Princess Taiping |
| eldest princess | emperor sisters | Princess Guantao |
| eldest princess | Emperor's aunt | Princess Lu Yuan |
By systematically sorting out the titles of the emperor's sons, we can find that these titles are not only identity indicators, but also carry complex political functions. The evolution from "Prince" to "Elder Brother" reflects the changing trajectory of China's feudal political system. Understanding these titles will help us interpret historical documents and literary and artistic works more accurately.
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