What does the tombstone mean?

Let's talk about "gu" first. In Chinese, "gu" has two meanings: one is deceased and no longer exists. For example, "old friend", "homeland"; another meaning refers to the past. For example "Old person" or "story". Of course, the "gu" on the tombstone refers to the former: the deceased person. Many people may feel questioned after reading this: Is it possible that the name on the tombstone will still be a living person? Therefore, I think This "gu" has a taste of superfluous. But it is not the case. Chinese culture advocates prudent pursuit of the end, and this "gu" is a proxy: the memory of the plot is pinned in this "gu". At the beginning, the word "Xian" appeared on tombstones, often referring to the fact that the owner of the tomb had a certain success and a prominent position in life.

For example, if you are an official in the DPRK, or have any fame, you must at least say someone like a squire before you can use the word "Xian" on the tombstone. On the tombstones of ordinary people, the word "Xian" is used, which means "Xian". The meaning is similar to "計", and it is generally considered to play a role of emphasis. However, with the development of society, many ordinary people also use the word "Xian" on the tombstones of people who have passed away at home. In fact, I personally feel that the deceased It's over, there is no difference between the prominence in life and the time of death. Therefore, "Hsien" can be used on tombstones as a courtesy in the sense of praise, regardless of class or status.

Then it says "Kao". In ancient times, the book that determined Chinese etiquette was called the Book of Rites, which, as the name suggests, was a book that recorded all aspects of Zhou's rituals. It was regarded as one of the "Five Classics" by Confucians in later generations. The Book of Rites can be regarded as one of the compulsory subjects. The Book of Rites has such a stipulation in terms of appellation: when the father is alive, he is called his father, and after his death, it is called "Kao". .The so-called "妣" has the same origin as "Kao", referring to the mother when she was alive and called "妣" when she died. In the idiom, there is "ru mourning for the concubine", which refers to the same as if both parents died. .At present, the convention on many tombstones is: Therefore, the characters of XX and XX are displayed. According to Chinese tradition, the mode of joint burial is often practiced. Therefore, under one tombstone, two deceased people are often buried.

In ancient times, the cost of making a tombstone was very high: first, you needed to go to a mason to buy a tombstone, and then ask the mason to engrave on the tombstone. The size, specification, and material of the tombstone determine the price of the tombstone, and the number of words on the tombstone, It will also affect the price of the tombstone. For example, in the past, landlord families often paid someone to write the tomb owner's epitaph, and then asked the mason to inscribe the epitaph on the tombstone. This situation provided convenience for later archaeology.