Temple names are commonly used when naming most
Chinese,
Korean (
Goryeo and
Joseon periods), and
Vietnamese (such dynasties as
Trần,
Lý, and
Lê) royalty. They should not be confused with
era names. Compared to
posthumous names, the use of temple names is more exclusive. Both titles were given after death to an emperor or king, but unlike the often elaborate posthumous name, a temple name almost always consists of only two
characters:
- an adjective: chosen to reflect the circumstances of the emperor's reign (such as "Martial" or "Lamentable"). The vocabulary overlaps with that of posthumous titles' adjectives, but for one emperor, the temple name's adjective character usually does not repeat as one of the many adjective characters in his posthumous name. The usual exception is "Filial" (孝). The founders are almost always either "High" (高) or "Grand" (太).
- "emperor": either zǔ (祖) or zōng (宗).
- Zu ("forefather") implies a progenitor, either a founder of a dynasty or a new line within an existing one. The equivalent in Korean is jo (조), and tổ in Vietnamese
- Zong ("ancestor") is used in all other rulers. It is jong (종) in Korean, and tông in Vietnamese.