Abstract: The Rulin biographies in Book of Zhou and History of Northern Dynasties both recorded that the famous scholar of Confucian Classics in the Northern Dynasties, Fan Shen, has “Name of Shen, Courtesy Name of Wenshen”, which is widely followed. Book of Sui: Classics & Culture Works called him as Fan Wenshen directly, Old Book of Tang: Classics & Culture Works and New Book of Tang: Art & Literature Works also did so. In ancient books and literatures in Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties, the meaning of Wenshen is not beautiful, using such name is not in accordance with the ancient’s routine of naming. As a matter of fact, his actual courtesy name is Wenyuan, which still can be found in The Primary Anthology and Taiping Imperial Encyclopedia, etc., those books usually copy from old one by conventionality. Book of Zhou and History of Northern Dynasties both recorded it as Wenshen is because of Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan, where the word “Yuan” shall be avoided as taboo. According to Book of Sui, Zhou Guangye in the Qing Dynasty thought his name was Yuan and the courtesy name was Wenshen, which is completely a word of assumption.

Key words: Confucianist of Confucian classics, Fan Shen, Name and courtesy name