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Socio-cultural Meanings of Titles Following Names in Korea and China

  • PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE
  • 2016, (21), pp.192~214
  • Publisher : Research Institute for East-West Thought
  • Research Area : Humanities > Other Humanities
  • Published : January 31, 2016

LEE, MYUNG A 1

1中国上海外国语大学

Accredited

ABSTRACT

It was regarded as improper to call a king or an elderly person by his or her name in ancient China. The Confucian custom that prohibited calling the elderly by their names has prevailed for a long time in China and Korea. We can find the remnants of this custom even now. However, regarding the titles that follow names, China and Korea show differences in the range of persons to whom such titles are properly applied, and also in the conditions which govern the choice of titles. This paper compares the socio-cultural meanings of the titles following names in Korea and China. It examines the conditions under which such titles are chosen, the relatives who can be called by these titles, and the different types of titles following names depending on age and position. Our investigation revealed the difference between China and Korea: The choice of titles following names in Korea is determined by relative age, absolute age, and marital status. In contrast, the choice of titles following names in China is determined by relative age, but unlike Korea, not as much by absolute age or marital status. In addition, the ranges of relative age are different in China and Korea. Koreans are highly concerned with relative age to the degree that the difference in a few months or a year determines the rank. China has a wider range of relative ages under which the custom applies than Korea does. The custom is more strict in Korea than in China.

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