正名 is a key Confucian concept from 《
论语·
子路》 (Analects, Book 13). Confucius said that to govern, one must first 'rectify names' — making sure that titles match reality (a ruler must act like a ruler, a father like a father). The phrase
名不正则言不顺 ('if names are not rectified, speech will not flow') comes from this passage.
