Why does my grandpa have two chinese names?
Chinese in ancient times could have as much as three names. The first one was the one given at birth, the second one (zì字) given for men turning 20 and women upon marriage. The third one (Hào號) was a self-selected pseuydomn. Zì字 was a name traditionally given to Chinese males at the age of 20, marking their coming of age. It was sometimes given to females upon marriage. The practice is no longer common in modern Chinese society. According to the Book of Rites （禮記）, after a man reaches adulthood, it is disrespectful for others of the same generation to address him by his name given at brith. Thus, the given name was reserved for oneself and one’s elders, while the Zì字 would be used by adults of the same generation to refer to one another on formal occasions or in writing; hence the term ‘courtesy name’. Hào 號 was an alternative courtesy name, usually referred to as the pseudonym. It was usually self-selected and it was possible to have more than one. It had no connection with the bearer
