The New Study of the Evolution about the Name of Setaria italica Beauv. in Ancient Times

Ji was the alias of Setaria italica Beauv. in the time of Shang and Zhou. Ho was the primitive pictographic character of Setaria italica Beauv. originally and be expanded as the general name of grain. Ho was also the main name of Setaria italica Beauv. in the time of Zhanguo, Qin and Han, but it was specially used as the name of rice in the south of China after Song Dynasty. Gu was used as the grains’ general name originally, but it became the universal name of Setaria italica Beauv. after Wei and Jin Dynasties. Su was used as the seed’s name of Setaria italica Beauv. originally, but it could be used as all the seeds’ name of grain generally. After Wei and Jin Dynasties, it evolved to be the proper name of Setaria italica Beauv., which may refer to the adult plant also refer to the seed, and could be used as the name of rice after Tang Dynasty specially. However, these names of Setaria italica Beauv. were the mainstream names in the majority areas at that time. Actually, there was the phenomenon of different names’ overlapping in each time. Moreover, Zi was the name of Setaria italica Beauv. when being used as Sacrificial offering and Liang was one of the fine variety of Setaria italica Beauv.Shu was also one of the variety of Setaria italica Beauv., but it referred to the coherent Setaria italica Beauv.Men was used as the name of Setaria italica Beauv. and Qi was used as the name of white Setaria italica Beauv.