Somewhere in inland China, a place once known as “一群猪” (Yi Qun Zhu; A Herd of Pigs) has become “一碗水” (Yi Wan Shui; A Bowl of Water). Elsewhere, uglier names are being scrubbed away too; and a lively argument has broken out over what maps should really remember. History, culture or the government’s version thereof?

在中国内陆的某个地方，一个曾经被称为“一群猪”（Yi Qun Zhu；一群猪）的地方变成了“一碗水”（Yi Wan Shui；一碗水）。 在其他地方，更丑陋的名字也被抹去；关于地图真正应该记住什么，一场激烈的争论已经发生了。 历史、文化还是政府的版本？

China is once again tidying up its place names. This time, the targets are not faux-European compounds or housing estates with aristocratic fantasies. This time, the quarry is stranger, rougher and, frankly, much more entertaining.

中国再次整理其地名。 这一次，目标不是假的欧洲大院或具有贵族幻想的住宅区。 这一次，采石场更奇怪、更粗糙，坦率地说，更有趣。

In Sichuan, a place long called “屙屎梁” (E Shi Liang; Dung Ridge) has been renamed “阿石梁” (A Shi Liang; Ashi Ridge). Nearby, “杀人坪” (Sha Ren Ping; Flat Kill) has become “大窝坪” (Da Wo Ping; Big Flat Hollow), while “杀人沟” (Sha Ren Gou; Killing Gully) has been softened into “大水沟” (Da Shui Gou; Big Water Gully).

在四川，一个长期被称为“屙屎梁”（E Shi Liang；Dung Ridge）的地方已被更名为“阿石梁”（A Shi Liang；Ashi Ridge）。 在附近，“杀人坪”（Sha Ren Ping；平杀）变成了“大窝坪”（大窝坪），而“杀人沟”（Sha Ren Gou；杀沟）被软化为“大水沟”（大水沟；大水沟）。

As Southern Weekend reports, these changes are part of a broader clean-up of those which officials call irregular place names under updated rules. In Sichuan alone, other names flagged for reform include “杀人坳” (Sha Ren Ao; Killing Pass) and the now famous “一群猪” (Yi Qun Zhu; One Herd of Pigs).

正如《南方周末》报道的那样，这些变化是更广泛清理官员们根据更新的规则称之为不规则地名的一部分。 仅在四川，其他改革的名字就包括“杀人坳”（Sha Ren Ao；杀戮通道）和现在著名的“一群猪”（Yi Qun Zhu；一群猪）。

From Foreign Flourish to Rural Absurdity

从外国繁荣到农村荒谬

That last one may take some beating. In Xingwen County’s Gushong Town, the name came from a cluster of pig-shaped rocks in a mountain hollow and a local legend about immortal pigs turning to stone. Officials now propose “一碗水” (Yi Wan Shui; One Bowl of Water). It is calmer, cleaner and a good deal less snout-forward.

最后一个可能会受到一些打击。 在兴文县古红镇，这个名字来自山沟中的一簇猪形岩石和当地关于不死猪变成石头的传说。 官员们现在提议“一碗水”（一碗水）。 它更平静、更干净，而且不那么前卫。

Yet these names are not random bursts of village eccentricity. Some are oral history. Some are the accidents of dialect. In Linjiang, Jilin, two places popularly known as “大母猪沟” (Da Mu Zhu Gou; Big Sow Gully) and “小母猪沟” (Xiao Mu Zhu Gou; Little Sow Gully) were officially corrected to “大木柱沟” (Da Mu Zhu Gou; Big Wooden Pillar Gully) and “小木柱沟” (Xiao Mu Zhu Gou; Little Wooden Pillar Gully), reflecting those which officials say were the original names before local pronunciation dragged them elsewhere.

然而，这些名字并不是村庄怪癖的随机爆发。 有些是口述历史。 有些是方言的意外。 在吉林临江，两个俗称“大母猪沟”和“小母猪沟”的地方被正式更正为“大木柱沟”和“小木柱”，反映了官员们在当地发音之前所说的原始名称。

That is the rub; when a name is crude, or when is it simply history in muddy shoes. China’s place-name regulations stipulate names should be clear, healthy and not offensive to public morals. They also insist that place names should remain relatively stable. The law, in other words, wants both order and memory.

这就是摩擦；当一个名字是粗糙的，或者当它只是穿着泥泞的鞋子的历史时。 中国的地名法规规定，名字应清晰、健康，不冒犯公众道德。 他们还坚持认为地名应该保持相对稳定。 换句话说，法律既需要秩序，也需要记忆。

History Does Not Always Sound Polite

历史听起来并不总是礼貌的

Sometimes memory wins. In Suzhou, “太监弄” (Taijian Nong; Eunuch Lane) remains untouched after more than 500 years and no one in the city seems eager to send it to finishing school. In Longhui County, Hunan, unusual local names have also been defended as historic geography rather than bureaucratic mistakes.

有时候记忆会赢。 在苏州，“太监弄”（太监巷）在500多年后仍未被触及，该市似乎没有人急于把它送到毕业学校。 在湖南龙汇县，不寻常的当地名称也被辩护为历史地理，而不是官僚主义错误。

Then there is the well-known case of “祭城路” (Jicheng Lu; Jicheng Road) in Zhengzhou. The first character is locally pronounced one way and read by outsiders another, which helped make the name controversial. The road was eventually renamed Ping’an Avenue, despite local objection, and villagers took the government to court.

然后是郑州著名的“祭城路”案例。 第一个字符在当地以一种方式发音，被局外人读成另一种方式，这有助于使这个名字引起争议。 尽管当地反对，这条路最终还是改名为平安大道，村民们将政府告上法庭。

They lost. But not entirely. China’s Supreme People’s Court still warned that chaotic renaming can damage place-name culture and sever historical continuity. That is unusually sharp language for a row over maps, and it shows how much is really at stake. And the local Metro agreed

他们输了。 但不是完全的。 中国最高人民法院仍然警告说，混乱的改名会损害地名文化，并破坏历史连续性。 对于在地图上排成一排来说，这是一个异常尖锐的语言，它显示了真正涉及的利害关系。 当地地铁同意了

Because place names are never just labels. They are gossip turned permanent. They are geography with an accent. Scrub them too hard and the map may grow tidier, but thinner; cleaner, but less alive.

因为地名从来不只是标签。 他们是永久性的八卦。 他们是带有口音的地理。 用力擦洗它们，地图可能会变得更整洁，但更薄；更干净，但不那么生动。

So somewhere in inland China, “一群猪” (Yi Qun Zhu; A Herd of Pigs) has become “一碗水” (Yi Wan Shui; A Bowl of Water). The new name may be gentler on polite society. But the old one still grunts faintly beneath the surface, reminding us that maps, like people, are often most memorable before they are fully improved.

因此，在中国内陆的某个地方，“一群猪”（一群猪）变成了“一碗水”（一湾水；一碗水）。 新名字对礼貌的社会可能更温和。 但旧的仍然在水面下隐隐发出咕哝，提醒我们，地图和人一样，在完全改进之前往往最令人难忘。