Listen to this articleshìhào 谥号
Posthumous Title
追加给死者的称号。追加的对象通常是皇帝、贵族、大臣、杰出官员等政治、社会地位高的人。追加的称号高度概括死者一生的是非功过，大体分为褒扬性的“美谥”、贬斥性的“恶谥”、同情性的“平谥”三种。这是中国传统政治中的重要制度文化。它通过对死者的评价对后人发挥导向作用，以利于政治、社会秩序的维持。
Posthumous titles were often conferred upon emperors, nobles, ministers, and other prominent officials with a high political and social status. The titles were intended to serve as a summation of the life of their holders. They mostly came in three forms: commendatory, derogatory, or sympathetic. They were an important part of institutional culture in Chinese traditional politics. The titles were designed to guide future generations and promote political and social stability.
引例 Citations：
◎谥者，行之迹也；号者，功之表也。（《逸周书·谥法解》）
（谥是一个人生平的概括，号是一个人功过的表达。）
A posthumous title is a summary of a person’s life, including his merits and demerits. (The Recollected Book of Zhou)
◎谥者，别尊卑，彰有德也。（《白虎通义·谥》）
（谥是用来区别尊卑、彰显德行的。）
Posthumous titles are used to indicate honors and disgraces and praise integrity. (Debates of the White Tiger Hall)
◎夫谥者，所以惩恶劝善，激浊扬清，使忠臣义士知劝，乱臣贼子知惧。
（《旧唐书·于传》）
（谥号制度，就是用于惩罚恶人、奖劝善人，荡除恶行、褒扬善行，使忠臣义士受到激励，而乱臣贼子知道惧怕。）
The posthumous title system is designed to punish the wicked, reward the good, deter bad deeds, praise good deeds, encourage loyal people, and discourage evildoers. (The Old Book of Tang )
