【Date】 Nov 5 (Thu), 2015, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

【Venue】 Ground Floor, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo

【Speaker】 Yegor GREBNEV (DPhil Candidate, Oxford University)

【Title】 Textual Origins of the Order of Posthumous Names in Ancient China: How a Historical Commentary Became a Ritual Manual

【Abstract】
Chapter “Shifajie” 諡法解 in the Yi Zhou shu 逸周書 is believed to be the earliest manual for the assignment of posthumous names in China. However, a number of entries in the “Shifa jie” are not related to posthumous names at all, and the phenomenon of “evil posthumous names” (eshi 惡諡) is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental principle of filial piety. Can we solve these contradictions by suggesting that the text was initially written for a very different purpose?

【Comment】 HIRASE Takao (Professor, IASA)

The seminar will be held in Japanese.