Tracing the Meaning of My Chinese Name

The Goddess of the Luo River by Ren Xiong 任熊.

In Chinese culture, names carry profound significance and are selected with great care and consideration. They embody and reflect traditions and beliefs that have been passed down for thousands of years. A carefully chosen name convey hopes and virtues, and is seen as the foundation of a person’s identity and destiny. My Chinese teacher assisted me in selecting my Chinese name, Luo Fangfei 洛芳菲, to which she wrote:

Luo 洛 has a rich cultural and historical background. The character comes from the Luo River, Luoshui 洛水 – an important river in Chinese history, especially in Henan and Shaanxi provinces. In ancient times, it was common to take surnames from geographical locations, and many people who lived near the Luo River adopted Luo 洛 as their family name.

The Luo River is also strongly associated with the classical poem 《洛神赋》 (Luoshen fu) – “Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River” – written by Cao Zhi 曹植 during the Three Kingdoms period, Sanguo shidai 三国时代. The poem celebrates Luoshen 洛神, a divine and ethereal river goddess, and has come to symbolise poetic beauty, dreams, and longing. It also pairs beautifully with your given name Fangfei 芳菲, which means “blooming fragrance.” Flowers need water to bloom – and the Luo River can symbolise what gives life, balance and depth to the name.

Last but not least, Luo 洛 is the first character in Luoyang 洛阳, one of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals, and a center of culture, art and poetry for centuries. Luoyang is particularly famous for its magnificent peonies, mudan 牡丹, which are considered China’s national flower and symbolise beauty, wealth and dignity.

The Nymph of the Luo River by Gu Kaizhi 顧愷之, the British Museum.

Yours Truly,

The Lady of the Moon