Page "Posthumous name" Paragraph 34

According to the noble system since the Zhou Dynasty, the immediate family members of the Emperor were given the titles of Kings ( or Princes ), Dukes, Earls, etc., with or without actual control over a region of land.

After their death, they would be referred to by the same title, with the posthumous name ( usually one character ) inserted in the middle.

The characters used are mostly the same ones used for emperors, with the same denotations as described above.

For example, Prince Gong of the Qing Dynasty was posthumously named Zhong ( 忠 ), and thus is referred to as Prince Gongzhong ( 恭忠親王 ); Prince Chun was posthumous named Xian ( 賢 ), hence is referred Prince Chunxian ( 醇賢親王 ).