Explanation of names #5. Fang Yuan, Fang Zheng and Ma Hong Yun (Patreon)

The name Fang Zheng (方正) uses the character 正, which means “righteous” or “justice”.

The name Fang Yuan (方源) is pronounced almost the same as 方圆, which means "square and circle". This is a reference to the Rules and Regulation Gu. The character 矩 (regulations) refers to a tool — a carpenter's square — used for drawing squares. The character 规 (rules) refers to a compass, a tool used for drawing circles. So their square and circular shapes are not accidental.

Ma Hong Yun has two names: the first was given to him at birth, and the second after he joined the Ma tribe. The name Ma Hong Yun (马鸿运) means "Ma the Lucky", directly pointing to his incredible luck. However, as we know, he wasn’t particularly intelligent, so his original name was Fei Cai (费才), which translates as "wasted talent" or "useless intellect".