126 EXOGAMY IN CHINA 



that while no harm may come from its being spoken 

 by others, to speak one's own name is a loss of vitality. 



"Thus in some parts of Madagascar it is 'fady' 

 or taboo for a person to tell his own name, but a slave 

 or attendant will answer for him." 

 Golden Bough, In the "Rules of Propriety or Ceremonial Usages" 



Ft. II, p. 327. the X] - th B(x)k of the L . Kij it ig said . << when a great 



officer went on a mission about private affairs, a man 

 of his private establishment went with him as his 

 spokesman, and called him by his name." 



"When a great officer went on any mission, it 

 was the rule that he should have such an officer from 

 the ruler's establishment with him, to answer for 

 him." 



As in the avoidance of the names of the dead, so 



in the avoidance of the names of the living there were 



exceptions. 



Li Ki, Leone, It is said: "Before his father a son should be 



pf.' Iv/ipV called by his name, and before his ruler a minister." 



27-28. The father had given the "name of childhood" to his 



son, and that name had been solemnly confirmed by 



his grandfather, if then living. 



Op. cit. Pt. in. The ruler had the power to, and may have invested 



p " 9 * the minister with lands and a name, and one can 



understand the idea that in the presence of the donor 



no harm could accrue to anyone by the use of the name 



which he had given. 



Op. c?t. p. 476. It was for the same reason that "To their parents, 



sons and daughters called themselves by their names." 



For the same reason we read that: "The son and heir 



Op. c«t. p. 113. of a feudal prince (at his own court), called himself by 



his name; (at another court), his attendant described 



him as 'The righful son of our unworthy ruler.' ' 



Op. cit. Pt. IV. The avoidance of names led to the use of descrip- 



"' 27, tions varying with the rank of the person referred to, 



and with that of the person addressed, and the place in 



which the description was used. 



«0p. cit. p. 27. Thus, "A great officer of the highest grade (at his 



own court), called himself 'Your inferior minister'; (at 



another court), his attendant who answered for him, 



described him as 'The ancient of our poor ruler.' A 



great officer of the lowest grade (at his own court), 



called himself by his name; (at another court), his 



attendant described him as 'Our unworthy great 



officer. 



The "son of Heaven" styled and called his great 

 officers, and Eulers who were dukes or marquises, if 



