The hidden meanings behind Yi Lian Kai & Yi Lian Shen’s names (10 min read)

Anyone who has watched Color of night will know that Yi Lian Kai has another name Lan Po (兰坡) which Qin Sang and he himself normally uses. And if you’ve watched episode 5, Yi Lian Shen has another name too Yun Xi (云溪)  which he uses to address himself. But why? Is it simply a nickname? Is there a deeper meaning to it?

Historic Chinese Names

In the Han Chinese (which is the biggest ethnic group in China) have always had two names. Their “Ming (名)” and the “zhi(字)” which nowadays are combined together to form the phrase “name” in modern day chinese. But before 1949, before Mao Zedong declared China as a communist party, the use of having two names a ming and a zhi was common. The reason for doing this is due to respect for the other person as names were seen as an important part of a someone’s identity and should be respected.

Often once a child is born, they would be given a nickname or 乳名before their official name os created. But before they reach the age of 3 months, their parents would give them a personal name. This is the name they will use to call themselves, their parents, what their teachers and peers will call them before they reach their coming of age ceremony. For boys it is 20 years old and for girls it is 15. During that ceremony, their parents will give them another name which other people would call them except their parents who would continue to call them via their “ming”. But before the Tang dynasty, not everyone was allowed to be given a “zhi” or courtey name which only people with a certain social status was allowed to do so such as the family members of government officials, royalty etc and it was literally a sign of what social status you were at. Commom people were not allowed to give themselves a “zhi”/courtesy name.

coming of age ceremony for boys: A hat/ or Guan is put on their head, as a symbol that they are now an adult, they are given a name and are allowed to officially marry

coming of age ceremony for girls: They get given a name, hairpins are inserted into their hair and they are officially allowed to marry after this ceremony. Before this ceremony, girls are not allowed to put hairpins in their hair and they wear their hair down.

During the Tang dynasty, more and more scholars were drafted into the Imperial Court to become government ministers and therefore more and more people earned the right to have a “zhi” and afterwards, it became popular and was used by many people.

Some people not only had a “ming” name and a “zhi” name but they also created names for themselves for example the famous chinese poet from the Tang Dynasty, Li Bai. His “ming” personal name is Bai but his “zhi” name is Tai Bai. But he also had a name he created himself called “The scholar of Qing Lian”.

But perhaps the person who has the most names was the Emperor as he was the Son of Heaven and therefore it was extremely rude and disrespectful to call the Emperor by his name even if it was in writing and therefore they would have an extra name called a Shi Hao (諡號) that was given to the Emperor before he ascended the throne by a special ceremonial minister. For example the Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty whose personal name was Long Zhi which no-one wqs allowed to use after his ascension to the throne, but he had a name that could be used by his elders called Xuanzong but he was most commonly known as the Illustrious August which scholars could use to avoid being disrespectful to him.

Lian Kai’s Zhi name Lan Po

As Yi Lian Kai lived during a time when the use an additional name was still in commom use and the fact that he was the son of a warlord, it’s natural that he and all his brothers would have a zhi name.

Lan Po 兰坡 

This is actually the name of a poem from the Song dynasty (960-1279). The rough translation of it is “Orchid slope” Here is the poem and the rough translation below:

梅花迹春无光 继踵惟有幽兰香

There are no traces of spring when the plum blossoms bloom, what follows is only the scent of orchids. (also suggests this is a poem about a woman who was admired by a man with a high positiom due to the imagery portrayed here)

天姿冲澹謝朱粉 睥睨百卉皆优倡

Her immense beauty cannot be covered up by rouge, arrogantly knowing she is more beautiful than the other women and female performers around her.

高人采撷纫为佩 养之盆盎移中堂

Everyone envied the man who obtained her body, he then moved her to nurture her in his meeting hall (means she became his wife)

微风馥馥来何所 一千鼻观尤非常

Where does that strong fragrant scent come from? Thousands of noses detected something strange

年来屡遭白眼笑 过而不顾夫何伤

In that year endured countless cold stares and mocking tones yet she does not care for those but why does her husband hurt her too?

深山穷遂真性 寂寞无人亦自芳

Only when she lost everything did she know who truly cared for her. It is lonely and only she could cheer herself up.

忆昔灵均滋九畹 贞洁内守甘退藏

Remembering the rumors that she was disloyal to her husband, to prove her innocence she could only retreat.

众醉独醒隘八表 回视俗物都茫茫

Even if you are the only sober one there is danger all around, looking around prejudice is everywhere.

我今日暮前途窄 握香不羡尚书郎

This morning the road ahead was narrow and I run into the one I dislike. Although I hold incense in my hand but I do not envy him, the newly elected imperial affairs advisor.

荒坡满植作知已 从兹身世两相忘

On this abandoned slope lies the woman who understands me most, but from now on we are separated by life and death.

*spoiler* It’s later revealed that  Yi Lian Kai’s mother did in fact die because she was accused of having an affair and his father abandoned her, leaving her to the mercy of his other wives/ concubines who did not treat her well. In the end she passes away whilst waiting for Genera Yi to prove her innocence. So I think the author gave him this name for a reason.

The names of the 3 Yi brothers

In chinese all the personal names of the brothers of the Yi family share the first character of their name but whilst the “Kai” in Yi Lian Kai’s name and the “Yi” in Yi Lian Yi’s name both mean happiness, however the “Shen” in Yi Lian Shen’s name means to be wary of/ to be aware so it’s clear that the author was planning from the start that the 2nd brother Yi Lian Shen would be the antagonist of the novel.

Hope this answers all your questions!