Generation Names
During the Han Dynasty (beginning about 206 BC), clan leaders in China held a meeting to select a list of names, which would be adopted as the 'generation names' of subsequent generations of the clan. The names were arranged in the form of a poem so that they could be easily remembered. The poem or rhyme consists of 5 characters in each verse, with a total of 4 verses. This leads to a total of 20 characters. Naturally it may happen that one branch of the family will be further down the table of names than will other branches, due to more rapid reproduction. Generation names are known in Mandarin as tzu yun, p'ai ming and p'ai hang.In the Chung clan, the first of the personal names (in this case the middle name) follows the surname and is used to denote the generation of an individual in the family tree. This custom is to give brothers and cousins - all those belonging to the same generation - identical elements in their names; in this way the generation they belong to was made clear. It pinpoints the position in the hierarchy of his family and clan, and facilitates the observance of proper etiquette and correct mourning procedures. Daughters do not have generation names but sometimes the parents may use an identical middle name such as Sweed which also has different spellings such as Suit and See.
