Chinese rulers were not named and counted by their personal name like in Europe (for instance, William I. the Conqueror), but with the honorific title "the Upper" (shang 上) or the epithet "Down of the stairs to the throne" (in order to avoid a direct addressing to the ruler; bixia 陛下).

After death, they were called with a posthumous name (shi 謚), that was mostly given in accordance to the circumstances during their lifetime (like "the Martial Emperor" or "the Lamentable King"). There are certain guidelines for the appointment of such titles.

For the ceremony of ancestal veneration that is in use within the whole population of China and was accordingly exerted by the rulers, the deceased emperor was given a honorific title, his temple name (miaohao 廟號).

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