The Origin of the Name Erhai

Erhai is the central lake of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, China, and one of Dali's "Four Great Scenes" ("Erhai Moon"). Its name is closely tied to its geographical features, ethnic culture, and historical evolution. There are several main theories about its origin: --- ### **1. Named for Its Ear-Like Shape** Erhai has an elongated shape, stretching about 42 kilometers from north to south and up to 9 kilometers at its widest point from east to west. Viewed from above, its outline resembles a **human ear**, hence the name "Erhai." - **"Er"**: In ancient Chinese, "Er" (ear) and "Er" (洱) are homophones, and the name may have been directly derived from its shape. - **"Hai"**: In the Yunnan highlands, large lakes are customarily referred to as "Hai" (sea), such as Dianchi and Yangzonghai. This is a regional term of respect for large bodies of water, not an actual reference to the ocean. --- ### **2. Derived from Bai Language Words for "Ear" and "Water"** In the Bai language, Erhai is called **"Erx Cux"** (phonetically similar to "Erci" or "Erci"), where: - **"Erx"** (ear) may refer to the lake's shape or could originate from an ancient Bai term for "water" or "lake." - **"Cux"** (茨) means "lake" or "water body." Thus, "Erhai" may be a combination of a phonetic and semantic translation from the Bai language into Chinese. --- ### **3. Evolution in Historical Records** - **Han Dynasty**: In Sima Qian's *Records of the Grand Historian*, Erhai was referred to as "**Ye Yu Marsh**" because the Dali area was then part of "Ye Yu County" (Ye Yu being an ancient place name possibly linked to local elm trees). - **Tang Dynasty**: During the Nanzhao Kingdom, it was called "**Xi'er River**" or "Er River," as it lay west of the Cangshan Mountains and connected to several rivers (e.g., Miju River, Boluo River). - **Post-Yuan Dynasty**: The name "Erhai" gradually became fixed and has been used ever since. --- ### **4. Myths and Folklore** According to Bai folklore, Erhai was formed from the fallen ear of an immortal, hence the name "Ear Sea," which later evolved into "Erhai." Another legend claims that Erhai was created when the Bodhisattva Guanyin poured holy water from her jade vase to subdue an evil dragon, symbolizing peace and prosperity. The name "Erhai" combines **geographical features, ethnic language, historical records, and mythology**, offering both a literal description of the lake's shape and a reflection of Bai culture's unique understanding of nature. Today, "Erhai" is not just a geographical term but also a symbol of Dali's poetic lifestyle—"The moon over Erhai reflects the snow on Cangshan; the Four Great Scenes endure for millennia."