Library of Congress
Pinyin Conversion Project

PINYIN ROMANIZATION GUIDELINES
CLARIFICATION OF PRACTICES

Final version / February 20, 2001

Romanization of Place Names	Romanization of Personal Names
Systematic romanization vs. BGN approved form Separation of syllables and capitalization Connection of syllables which may have been hyphenated, not hyphenated or separated in Wade-Giles	Married women Forenames Terms of address Titles Persons of religious vocation Royalty

INTRODUCTION

Library of Congress catalogers and Cataloging Policy and Support Office specialists held meetings between October 2000 and February 2001 to identify and resolve discrepancies in Chinese romanization practices for personal names and place names. The meetings resulted in the following document, which is intended to provide clear and consistent instructions for how the pinyin romanization guidelines should be applied by catalogers within the framework of AACR2. The Library understands that the draft codifies certain romanization practices that may not have been applied consistently in the past, and that their adoption would result in the modification of certain existing headings.

The Library requests comments on this draft. Please review these instructions and send comments before May 4, 2001, to:

Philip Melzer, Team Leader
Korean-Chinese Cataloging Team
Regional and Cooperative Cataloging Division
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540
(pmel@loc.gov)

After evaluating the comments, the document will be finalized and posted here, on the Library's pinyin home page. The pinyin romanization guidelines will then be modified, if necessary, to clarify the language and provide additional examples.

ROMANIZATION OF PLACE NAMES

I. Systematic romanization vs. BGN approved form

Catalogers should take care to distinguish between the systematically romanized form of the name of a jurisdiction and its BGN-approved form. Place names should be romanized systematically in descriptive strings. Connect to the place name, or separate from it, the generic term for a jurisdiction, following BGN practice [see examples 1-2]. Also romanize the place name systematically when it is used as part of the name of a corporate body, following BGN practice in connecting or separating the syllable(s) for the generic term [see example 3].

Headings for the names of jurisdictions should be established in conformance with the approved BGN form.

When the BGN form differs from the systematically romanized form, follow the BGN form in establishing the heading for the jurisdiction. When romanizing these place names, try to follow BGN's pattern of syllable aggregation. Be generous in providing alternative access points for other romanized forms that users might employ [see examples 4-5].

EXAMPLE 1:
place name appears in title as:

BGN form: Shaanxi Sheng
romanize place name in title as: Shanxi Sheng

EXAMPLE 2:
place name appears in title as:

BGN form: Gangbianzhai
romanize place name in title as: Gangbianzhai

EXAMPLE 3:
place name appears in title as:

BGN form: Harbin
romanize place name in title as: Ha'erbin

EXAMPLE 4:
corporate name:

BGN form for the related place: Zhenning Bouyeizu Miaozu Zizhixian
romanize heading for corporate name systematically as: Zhenning Buyizu Miaozu Zizhixian min zu shi wu wei yuan hui

EXAMPLE 5:
place name appears in corporate names as:

BGN form for the jurisdiction:

Chen Barag Qi

establish heading for jurisdiction as:

151 _0 $a Chen Barag Qi (China)

provide x-ref from systematically romanized forms:

451 _0 $a Chen Ba'erhu Qi (China)
451 _0 $a Chenba'erhu Qi (China)

romanize first corporate name in descriptive string as:

245 $c …Chen Ba'erhu Qi wen hua ju…

establish heading for first corporate body as:

110 1 $a Chen Baraq Qi (China). $b Wen hua ju

romanize second corporate name in descriptive string as:

245 $c …Chen Ba'erhu Qi shi zhi bian zuan wei yuan hui…

establish heading for second corporate body as:

110 2 $a Chen Ba'erhu Qi shi zhi bian zuan wei yuan hui

provide x-ref. on authority record from alternative romanized form:

410 2 $a Chenba'erhu Qi shi zhi bian zuan wei yuan hui

Taiwan place names will be an exception to the use of BGN-approved form of place name in corporate headings. Taiwan place names will be romanized in systematic pinyin form in descriptive strings and corporate names. At present, BGN continues to prescribe Wade-Giles forms for Taiwan place names. The headings for Taiwan place names themselves will be given in BGN-approved form. However, catalogers should not provide additional access points that include Wade-Giles romanization.

EXAMPLES:

Place name appears in title as:
BGN form: Kao-hsiung shih
Romanize place name in title as: Gaoxiong

Corporate name:
BGN form for the jurisdiction: T'ai-nan shih
Romanize heading in corporate name as: Tainan Shi guan guang xie hui

Place name that is subject of book:
BGN form: Chi-lung shih
Romanize heading for place name as: Chi-lung shih (Taiwan)

Go to Table of Contents

II. Place names: separation of syllables and capitalization

A/ Generic terms for administrative districts:

BGN separates the generic terms for administrative districts from the names of places, and capitalized them:

Sheng (province)
Shi (city)
Xian (county)
Qu (district)

When romanizing these terms, separate them from the names of places and capitalize them:

EXAMPLES:

Anhui Sheng
Baicheng Shi
Boshan Qu
Wu Xian

The terms Sheng, Xian, Shi were capitalized by the machine program in x10$a, x10b, x11$c, x51$a but not in x11$a, x30$a, x40$a, 245, 246, 5xx
The term Qu (district) was not capitalized by the machine program:
machine conversion:
151 _0 $a Dagang qu (Tianjin, China)

should be:
151 _0 $a Dagang Qu (Tianjin, China)
Obsolete terms for administrative units, and names of non-Chinese administrative units, should be romanized in the same manner:

Funing Zhou	(not Funingzhou or Funing zhou)
Changping Zhou	(not Changpingzhou or Changping zhou)
Niuyue Zhou	(not Niuyuezhou or Niuyue zhou)

B/ Generic terms for populated places below the level of administrative district

BGN connects the generic terms for jurisdictions or incorporated places below the level of administrative district to the names of places, such as zhen (town), cun (hamlet), zhuang (market), and xiang (village). When romanizing these terms, consider them to be part of the name of the place and connect them to the place name, both in headings and descriptive strings.
During conversion, the machine program did not connect these terms to place names in descriptive text or in headings.

EXAMPLE 1: place name is:
machine conversion of subject heading: Liangpa xiang (China)
BGN form: Liangpaxiang
establish heading for jurisdiction as: Liangpaxiang (China)
provide x-ref. from: Liangpa Xiang (China)

EXAMPLE 2: place appears in statement of responsibility as:
machine conversion of bib record: … Jinsheng cun…
BGN form: Jinshengcun (China)
romanize place name in statement of responsibility as: … Jingshengcun…

EXAMPLE 3: place name is:
machine conversion of subject heading: Donggu zhen (China)
BGN form: Dongguzhen
establish heading for jurisdiction as: Dongguzhen (Jiangxi Sheng, China)
provide x-ref. From alternative romanized form: Donggu Zhen (Jiangxi Sheng, China)

EXAMPLE 4: place name appears in title as:
machine conversion of bib record: … Daqiu zhuang …
BGN form: Daqiuzhuang (China)
romanize place name in title as: … Daqiuzhuang…

EXAMPLE 5: place name is:
machine conversion of subject heading: Baiyun dong (Guangdong Sheng, China)
BGN form: Baiyundong
establish heading for jurisdiction as: Baiyundong (Guangdong Sheng, China)
provide x-ref. From alternative romanized form: Baiyun Dong (Guangdong Sheng, China)

C/ Generic terms for geographical features (Shan, Hu, Hai, Dao, etc.):

These generic terms were capitalized in subject authorities converted manually by LC, and in subject headings being converted by machine program on bib records; however, they were not capitalized by the machine program in descriptive text or descriptive headings on bib records.
Generic terms for geographical features should be capitalized in the future when used as part of a proper name in a subject heading:
Jingpo Lake (China) Gansu Corridor (China) Niu Jie (China)
They should also be capitalized when a place name appears as part of a corporate name or title:

Taiwan Sheng li bo wu guan
Beijing Shi zhi
Beijing Shi you
Generic terms for geographic features are separated in the name of the place itself; however, those terms are often joined by BGN when the name of the place is used in the names of other places or geographic features. Distinguish whether the term refers to the geographic feature itself, or to another geographic feature of jurisdiction:

Chang Jiang (the river itself)
Changjiang Kou (the name of the river used to refer to the mouth of the river)
Changjiang (name of populated place)

Fen He (the river itself)
Fenhe Shuiku (the name of the river also used to refer to the name of the river delta)
Fanjing Shan (the mountain itself
Fanjingshan Ziran Baohuqu (the name of the mountain also used as the name of a nature preserve)

When romanizing place names in other contexts, unless it is specified that the generic term should be considered part of the place name, separate the generic term and capitalize it. For example,

(Yangtze River Restaurant) romanize as: Chang Jiang da fan dian

Provide additional access points from alternative romanizations that might reasonably be employed by users.

EXAMPLE:
151 0 Fanjingshan Ziran Baohuqu (China)
451 0 Fanjing Shan Ziran Baohuqu (China)

D/ Terms for archaeological sites, bridges, and other constructions of geographic extent (151):

These terms were captialized in subject authorities converted manually by LC, and in subject headings being converted by machine program on bib records; however, they will not be capitalized by the machine program in descriptive text or descriptive headings on bib records
They should be capitalized in the future when used as part of a proper name:
Fu Ling Site (China) Renmin Shengli Canal (China) Liyutan Dam (China) Luzhou Chang Jiang Da Qiao (Luzhou, Sichuan Sheng, China)

E/ Terms for buildings (110):

Syllables after the first one are not capitalized:

Huang he lou
Penglai ge

Go to Table of Contents

III. Place names: connection of syllables which may have been hyphenated, not hyphenated or separated in Wade-Giles

A/ Multi-syllable place names

Multi-syllable place names were frequently subject to variant practice in the past. The primary reason for these variant practices was the difficulty in determining which terms were to be considered generic, and whether they should be connected to or separated from the rest of the place name. For example,

- is Shang gan ling a hill? Is ling considered a generic term?

- what is Shen nong jia Is it a district? A forest? Is jia considered a generic term?

Sometimes syllables are romanized differently because of a difference in context. For example,

- the characters will be romanized Heilong Jiang when they refer to the river, and Heilongjiang when they refer to the province (see also section II B3 above).

- when the characters appear together, they can have one of two meanings: 1) general area or direction (northeast), and 2) the Northeast (Manchuria). In the former context, they are romanized dong bei; in the latter, they are considered to constitute a proper name, and are romanized Dongbei.

Here are examples of variant romanization practice in the past. When the BGN-approved form of name is not available, the place name will be romanized in a manner consistent with BGN romanization for similar place names.

Shen nung chia / Shen-nung chia / Shen-nung-chia
Machine will convert to: Shen nong jia / Shennong jia / Shennongjia
BGN form: Shennongjia

Shang kan ling / Shang-kan ling / Shang-kan-ling
Machine will convert to: Shang gan ling / Shanggan ling / Shangganling
BGN form: Shangganling

Lu-kou ch'iao / Lu-kou-ch'iao
Machine will convert to: Lugou qiao / Lugouqiao
BGN form: Lugouqiao

San-men hsia / San-men-hsia
Machine will convert to: Sanmen xia / Sanmenxia
BGN form: Sanmenxia [but: Sanmenxia Shi (ADM2)]

Shan-sung kang / Shan-sung-kang
Machine will convert to: Shansong gang / Shansonggang
BGN form: Shansonggang

Huang-yang chieh / Huang-yang-chieh
Machine will convert to: Huangyang jie / Huangyangjie
BGN form: Huangyangjie

Chiu chai kou / Chiu-chai-kou
Machine will convert to: Jiu jai gou / Jiujaigou
BGN form: Jiuzhao Gou

Pai-yang tien / Pai-yang-tien
Machine will convert to: Baiyang dian / Baiyangdian
BGN form: Baiyang Dian

Tu-chiang yen / Tu-chiang-yen
Machine will convert to: Dujiang Yan / Dujiangyan
BGN form: Dujiang Yan

Do not join syllables of general, non-specific geographic terms:

Hua tung / Hua-tung
Machine will convert to: Hua dong / Huadong
In the future, use: Hua dong

hsi pei / Hsi-pei
Machine will convert to: xi bei / Xibei
In the future, use: xi bei

Shan pei / Shan-pei
Machine will convert to: Shan bei / Shanbei
In the future, use: Shan bei

tung pei / Tung-pei Machine will convert to: dong bei / Dongbei
In the future, use: dong bei when the term refers to the direction northeast, or, in a general way, to the Northeast; Dongbei when it refers specifically to Manchuria

hsi yü / Hsi-yü
Machine will convert to: xi yu / Xiyu
In the future, use: xi yu

In the following examples, the machine program has also simply converted what it encountered in the record. Corrections will have to be undertaken manually:

Da yün ho will convert to Da yun he
In the future, use: Da Yunhe)

Huang-ho will convert to Huanghe
In the future, use: Huang He

Ch'ang-chiang will convert to Changjiang
In the future, use: Chang Jiang)

B/ Multi-syllable generic terms for place names

The following terms were capitalized, with connected syllables, by the conversion program on authority records when they were used as part of a proper name:
Zizhixian
Zizhizhou
Zizhiqi
Zizhiqu
Diqu
Dujiaqu
Tequ
Zhuanqu
Xingzhengqu
Ziran Baohuqu
These terms should also be captialized, with connected syllables, in descriptive text and descriptive headings on bib records, when they are used as part of a proper name. Other terms, such as Gaoyuan and Bandao, were not capitalized, and their syllables were not connected, by the machine program.
In the future, all terms which BGN has capitalized and connected syllables will be romanized in the same way when they are used as part of the proper name of a jurisdiction or geographical feature:
Liaodong Bandao
Qiangtang Gaoyuan
For place names like these, catalogers should provide additional access points from alternative romanizations that might reasonably be employed by users.
EXAMPLES:
151 0 Liaodong Bandao (China)
451 0 Liaodong ban dao (China)

151 0 Qiangtang Gaoyuan (China)
451 0 Qiangtang gao yuan (China)

C/ Two syllable place names

In the past, a generic term preceded by a single syllable was connected to that syllable with a hyphen; now, the generic term for the jurisdiction is separated from the place name by a space, and both syllables are capitalized. The machine program should make this distinction on authority and bib records in headings for place names and corporate bodies, but not in titles or descriptive text. When this part of the conversion program fires in an access point on a bib record, the record will be marked for review in the 987 field. Example:

Wu-hsien == Wu Xian (in heading for place name)
Wu-hsien == Wuxian (in descriptive text; this will need to be corrected manually)
987$f see descriptive cataloging for 2-syllable place names

D/ Names of peoples

In proper names, the syllable zu (for tribe or people) is connected to the name of the people, following BGN practice:
Gannan Zangzu Zizhizhou
Dehong Daizu Jingpozu Zizhizhou
In descriptive text, or when these terms are not used in a proper names, do not connect the syllable zu to the name of the people; also, do not connect zu when it is used in a proper name that is not a place name:

Zang zu wen hua zhi
Jingpo zu she hui diao cha
Menggu zu gu dai jun shi si xiang

but: Gannan Zangzu Zizhizhou zhi

E/ Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo

is always written this way, following BGN guidelines; but, since BGN does not connect terms like these, we will not do so either:

Chaoxian min zhu zhu yi ren min gong he guo

but: Zhonghua min guo (Zhonghua is a proper name for China)

Go to Table of Contents

ROMANIZATION OF PERSONAL NAMES

I/ Married women

The family name is written separately and capitalized. The syllables of the given name are connected, with only the first letter being capitalized:

100 1 $a Zhang Luo, Yuxiu
100 0 $a Li Ma, $c Shi

Go to Table of Contents

II/ Forenames (including pen names, courtesy names, nicknames)

A forename does not include a person's surname. There are many sorts of Chinese forenames. It is frequently difficult to clearly divide syllables because the structure or origin of terms, or the meanings of the characters themselves, are obscure. Therefore, to promote consistent application and to save time, all forenames will be romanized with connected syllables, leaving no space between them. Only capitalize the first letter. If a term appearing as an integral part of a name is not a title or term of address, establish the name in running form. Provide a reference or references from meaningful separations of syllables, as determined to be necessary by the cataloger.

is a place name and an appellation (The Old Man of Wugang) romanize as Wugangzhuren

is a nickname or courtesy name with an honorific title (Mr. White Sands) romanize as Baishaxiansheng

is a proper name with a title (Old Man Yun'gu)
romanize as Yun'gulaoren

romanize as Qinhexian'guan

romanize as Shudaizi

romanize as Tianranchisou

romanize as Daquandidan

romanize as Danzhen'gongbu

romanize as Caomangyusheng

romanize as Budonghuishizi

romanize as Bahumumu

romanize as Anyangjiumin

romanize as Alatan'geriyue

romanize as Aishatuo

is the Chinese form of Confucius
romanize as Kongzi

romanize as Laozi

romanize as Zhuangzi

but:
Jiang Jingguo xian sheng

Romanize fictitious names in the same manner as the names of real people.

is the name of a fictional character
romanize as Qin Keqing

is the name of a fictional character
romanize as Fuxi

is the name of a fictional character
romanize as Chiyou

is the name of a fictional character
romanize as Mazu

Go to Table of Contents

III/ Terms of address

Follow AACR2 rule 22.11B when establishing phrases that consist of a forename followed by a term of address, or a title of position or office. Rules for terms of address apply to names that consist of a surname and another term that is not the person's name. Terms of address include: Laoshi, Daifu, Zi.

is usually considered to be an integral part of a name; see section B above.) Separate a term of address from the surname with only a space, but not a comma. Connect syllables in the term of address; capitalize only the first letter.

If a term appearing as an integral part of a name is not a title or term of address, establish the name in running form. When in doubt, decide which way is better and make cross-references from meaningful separations of syllables, as determined to be necessary by the cataloger.

(Professor Lin)
romanize as Lin Laoshi
establish heading as: 100 1 $a Lin, $c Laoshi

(Dr. Wei)
romanize as Wei Daifu
establish heading as: 100 1 $a Wei, $c Daifu

(Master Kong)
romanize as Kong Fuzi
provide x-ref: 400 1 $a Kong, $c Fuzi

(Ms. Li Ma)
romanize as Li Ma Shi
establish heading as: 100 1 Li Ma, $c Shi

Go to Table of Contents

IV/ Titles

Follow AACR2 rule 22.12 when establishing names that include titles of nobility and terms of honor. Note that this rule applies to names that consist of a surname and a title, or a forename and a title, such as Yang Guifei. Although many Chinese names with titles were established in straight form in the past, they will be established strictly according to AACR2 in the future: Name, $c Title. Chinese titles include Fei, Guifei, etc. Connect syllables in the title; capitalize only the first letter. References should be made from the straight form of name.

If a term appearing as an integral part of a name is not a title or term of address, establish the name in running form. When in doubt, decide which way is better and make cross-references from meaningful separations of syllables, as determined to be necessary by the cataloger.

EXAMPLE 1:
(Royal Concubine Yang): romanize as Yang Guifei

The heading for the name will be changed so that the title appears in the $c subfield. A reference will be retained from the straight form.

100 0 $a Yang, $c Guifei
400 0 $a Yang Guifei

EXAMPLE 2:
(Royal Concubine of the Dong'e People): romanize as Dong'e Fei

The heading for the name will be changed so that the title appears in the $c subfield. A reference will be retained from the straight form.
100 0 $a Dong'e, $c Fei
400 0 $a Dong'e Fei

also:

EXAMPLE 3:

100 0 $a Zhen, $c Fei, $d 1876-1900
400 0 $a Zhen Fei, $d 1876-1900

EXAMPLE 4:

100 0 $a Huaruifuren, $d fl. 935-964
400 0 $a Xu Guifei, $d fl. 935-964
400 0 $a Xu, $c Guifei, $d fl. 935-964 [add this reference]

EXAMPLE 5:

100 0 $a Zhou, $c Gong, $dd. 1105 B.C.
100 0 $a Zhou Gong, $dd. 1105 B.C.

but:

EXAMPLE 6:
romanize as Yue Fei

In roman form, this name might be mistaken for a title. However, it is established as surname, forename: 100 1 $a Yue, Fei, $d 1103-1142

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V/ Persons of religious vocation

Headings for persons of religious vocation are governed by AACR2 rule 22.16D. Syllables of a term of address for a person of religious vocation should be connected, but separated from the family name or forename by a space. The first letter of the term should be capitalized. In a heading or reference, the term of address should appear in a $c subfield, following the surname or forename:

EXAMPLES:
(Great Monk Miaozhou): romanize as Miaozhou Dashi
100 0 $a Miaozhou, $c Dashi

(Monk Zhisheng): romanize as Zhisheng Shi
100 0 $a Zhisheng, $c Shi, $d 8th cent.

(Monk Yuanxian): romanize as Yuanxian Shi
100 0 $a Yuanxian, $c Shi, $d 1578-1657
400 0 $a Yuanxian, $c Shamen, $d 1578-1657

Go to Table of Contents

VI/ Royalty

Headings for persons with the highest royal status are established according to AACR2 rule 22.16A1. Enter the name in direct order. An epithet is separated from the name of the person, with a capitalized first letter and connected syllables.

EXAMPLES:

100 0 $a Guangxu, $c Emperor of China, $d 1871-1908

100 0 $a Daoguang, $c Emperor of China, $d 1782-1850
400 0 $a Cheng Huangdi, $c Emperor of China, $d 1782-1850

(Empress Wu): romanize as Wu Hou
100 0 $a Wu Hou, $cEmpress of China, $d 624-705

(Empress Dowager Chengtian)
100 0 $a Chengtian, $c Empress dowager of China, $d 953-1009
400 0 $a Liao Chengtian Taihou, $d 953-1009
400 0 $a Chengtian Hou, $d 953-1009
400 0 $a Xiao Taihou, $d 953-1009

(Empress Dowager Cixi)
100 0 $a Cixi, $c Empress dowager of China, $d 1835-1908
400 0 $a Cixi Huangtaihou, $d 1835-1908

(Empress Dowager Longyu)
100 0 $a Longyu, $c Empress dowager of China, $d 1868-1913
400 0 $a Longyu Huangtaihou, $d 1868-1913
The names of royal persons that include the name of the dynasty or territorial designation are established under AACR2 rule 22.8C. The name is entered in direct order, with the name of the dynasty or territorial designation followed by the name of the person. Connect the syllables of the name.

(Taizong of the Tang dynasty): romanize as Tang Taizong
100 0 $a Tang Taizong, $d Emperor of China, $d 597-649

(the First Emperor of Qin): romanize as Qin Shihuangdi
100 0 $a Qin Shihuangdi, $d Emperor of China, $d 259-210 B.C.
400 0 $a Qin Shi Huangdi, $d Emperor of China, $d 259-210 B.C.
Headings for consorts of royal persons are established according to AACR2 rule 22.16A2. Enter the name in direct order. An epithet is separated from the name of the person, with a capitalized first letter and connected syllables:
(Empress Lü)
100 0 $a Lü Hou, $c consort of Han Gaozu, Emperor of China, $d 241-180 B.C.

(Empress Yang)
100 0 $a Yang Taihou, $c Empress, consort of Song Ningzong, Emperor of China, $d 1162-1233
400 0 $a Yang Huanghou, $c Empress, consort of Song Ningzong, Emperor of China, $d 1162-1233

(Literary Empress Xiaozhuang)
100 0 $a Xiaozhuang Wenhuanghou, $c consort of Qing Taizong, Emperor of China, $d 1613-1688
400 0 $a Zhuang, $c Fei, $c consort of Qing Taizong, Emperor of China, $d 1613-1688