Overseasidol.com — On December 31, Chinese actor Zhou Junwei officially announced a change to his name, replacing the character “Wei (纬)” with “Wei (炜)” and adopting the name Zhou Junwei (周峻炜).
The announcement was made through a heartfelt and introspective long-form statement that quickly drew attention from fans and the public.
Zhou explained that his original name, given by his parents, carried profound expectations. It symbolized moral integrity, discipline, and the ambition to achieve greatness.
However, as he grew older, he began to feel that the name embodied a sense of rigidity and emotional coldness, creating inner conflict with his evolving sense of self-worth.
He shared that it took years of self-reflection and personal growth before he could genuinely appreciate who he was.
A significant turning point came during an art therapy workshop, where participants were encouraged to deconstruct and reinterpret their own names through poetry.
That experience helped him realize that identity, much like a name, is fluid and open to transformation.
Zhou further cited the influence of a poem by Edwin Arnold, later translated by renowned writer Yang Jiang, which left a deep impression on him.
The poem’s imagery of warming one’s hands by the fire of life resonated strongly, inspiring Zhou to choose the character “Wei (炜)”, a word associated with fire, warmth, and light.
Through this name change, Zhou Junwei expressed his desire to live more passionately and authentically, grounded in warmth rather than pressure.
He emphasized that he no longer wishes to define himself solely through achievements or external validation, but instead through love for nature, art, and the essence of being human.
