Controlling Factors in the Formation of Fujian Province Place Names-Also on the Wording Principles of Newly Compiled Local Records
Separated by both the Wuyi Mountains and the Central Min mountainous region,not only the Min language retains many ancient Chinese pronunciations,Fujian place names but also are left with many general names,special names with particular characters,and naming principles that have disappeared in the Central Plains region.Even a small amount characters of place names used by the aborigines of Min and Yue are kept today.In the development process of Fujian place names,Fujian place names were mainly influenced by four factors including politics,military,geography,and immigration.Among these,place names in high-level administrative regions,administrative regions with subordinate counties,and county-level administrative regions were mainly influenced by politics,demonstrating control of dynasties in the Central Plains and their will to cultivate people of the Min region.The naming of military strongholds over the generations and residential areas along the courier routes was mainly influenced by military factors.After the middle of Tang Dynasty,geographical scenery,especially landscapes and water systems became important factors affecting Fujian place names at various levels.Meanwhile,massive immigration of people in the Min region also became the major controlling factor in the pluralism of Fujian local place names and the spread of place names with Fujian features to the outside region.Based on analysis of controlling factors of the naming of place names,this article attempts to establish general principles for wording in newly compiled place names records.
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