The Origin of Beijing Hutong

"Hutong" was originally a transliteration of Mongolian. Analysis of Golden Branches contains "Xiangtongben Dialect", 1267 was inherited by most people in Yuan Dynasty, and it has a history of more than 700 years. Therefore, Beijing Hutong is the product of a long history, which reflects the face of Beijing's history and is rich in content. The word "Hutong" appears in the History of the Three Kingdoms, which means that Hu and Han live together in an alley.

In order to protect the style of the ancient capital and maintain the traditional characteristics, Beijing has designated more than 20 hutongs, such as Nanluoguxiang and No.1-No.8 Xisibei, as historical and cultural protection zones, as quadrangle bungalow protection zones.

The old Beijing Hutong formed since the Yuan Dynasty has a chessboard shape. The formation and development of hutong also left traces of historical changes in its name and reflected social customs.

As soon as every hutong is formed, people will naturally give it a name. Once this name is accepted and opened by most people, it truly represents the positioning of this hutong in the whole city and becomes an indispensable symbol in people's communication and other activities. This is the practical reference function of hutong names.

The name of Hutong has been handed down by people orally since it was formed in Yuan Dynasty. As for writing on the signboard and hanging on the alley mouth, it was only after the Republic of China.

Extended data

The names of hutongs in Beijing are actually people-centered, and there are more than 100 hutongs named directly by people's names, surnames and names. They are named after national heroes worshipped by people, as well as historical celebrities and dignitaries of several dynasties.

But the largest number of people are named after ordinary people, small traders and small craftsmen, because their actions are closer to the lives of ordinary people living in hutongs. The names of these hutongs fully reflect the humanistic tendency.