1. You are going to China to live there for a while, for business purposes. When Hong Kong was still a Crown Colony of Her Britannic Majesty, each governor upon his arrival in Hong Kong received his official Chinese name and seal. For example, Christopher Patten (now Baron Patten of Barnes) was called 彭定康 Peng Dingkang. More so in Asia than in elsewhere, leaders require dignified names that can command immediate respect.
2. You are an artist engaged in East Asian artistic disciplines such as calligraphy, pottery, Chinese/Japanese poetry, etc. Artists in East Asia often adopt a special artistic name in addition to their ordinary names. Artists’ names often are poetic and evocative of certain natural phenomena.
3. You are getting a tattoo. Bad. Please don’t. But if you would, talk to me first. It’s better than getting stuck with silly, nonsensical and/or offensive letter(s) permanently engraved on your skin for the rest of your life and you’re the only person clueless as to why people are making funny faces at you.
4. The Greater China will be the next financial, economic, cultural and political power house. Two of the world’s most ancient civilizations — India and China — are once again becoming great empires.
5. More reasons?
