It is predominantly used in Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.
Reflecting on the person's accomplishments or reputation, the title is assigned after death and essentially replaces the name used during life.
Posthumous names commonly made tracing linear genealogies simpler and kept a bloodline apparent.
By the time of the first emperor of Tang, the length had grown to seven characters, which was taxing to pronounce or write.
Some rulers, such as Wu Zetian or rebel leaders, had similarly styled regnal names when they were alive.
Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian extensively outlines the rules behind choosing the names.
Some monarchs' and royal members' posthumous names were extended, such as Hongwu Emperor, Nurhaci, Crown Prince Hyomyeong, Sunjo of Joseon, and Empress Dowager Cixi.
Most often, posthumous names are chosen from a relatively small list, with their literal meaning eroding as a result.
'Filial' is also used in the full posthumous names of virtually all emperors and empresses of the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties.
[6] According to the noble system since the Zhou dynasty, the immediate family members of the emperor were given the titles like King, Prince, Duke, or Earl, with or without actual control over a region.
Yinxiang, Prince Yi was granted a posthumous name consisting of 9 characters, Zhongjing chengzhi qinshen lianming xian (忠敬诚直勤慎廉明贤).
It was also common for people with no hereditary titles, primarily accomplished scholar-officials or ministers, to be given posthumous names by the imperial court.
The posthumous name is sometimes rendered canonization in English, for the scholar-official to Confucianism is considered analogous to the saint in the Catholic Church.
Confucius has been given long posthumous names in almost every prominent dynasty; one of the most commonly used was Zhìshèngxiānshī (至聖先師).
In Silla, every monarch was given the title of wang (Korean: 왕; Hanja: 王; lit.
All posthumous names for the rulers of Goryeo and Joseon end in two of the characters for Daewang (대왕; 大王; lit.
Before his temple and posthumous names were chosen, the deceased king was called Daehaeng daewang (대행대왕; 大行大王).
The Ministry of Culture and Education selected three candidates and reported them to the next king, who chose the name he liked best.
In Japan, posthumous names are divided into two types: shigō (Japanese: 諡号) and tsuigō (追号).
In addition to the title, Tennō (天皇, 'heavenly sovereign', usually translated as 'emperor') is a part of all Japanese emperors' posthumous names, most of them consisting of two kanji characters, although a few have three.
A shigō (諡号), or okuri-na (諡), name describes the accomplishments and the virtues of the rulers.
Most Thai people never refer to the king by their unique name or the informal Chula Chom Klao, as it is considered disrespectful.
[citation needed] The use of posthumous names ceased in Vietnam with the Khải Định Emperor, who died in 1925.