[33]Probably a place-name originally.
[33]Probably a place-name originally.
[33]Probably a place-name originally.
[34]Might we not quaintly say, "A Fair Writing"?
[34]Might we not quaintly say, "A Fair Writing"?
[34]Might we not quaintly say, "A Fair Writing"?
[35]Probably in the sense of "near and dear"—but not certainly so.
[35]Probably in the sense of "near and dear"—but not certainly so.
[35]Probably in the sense of "near and dear"—but not certainly so.
[36]Fumisignifies here a letter written by a woman only—a letter written according to the rules of feminine epistolary style.
[36]Fumisignifies here a letter written by a woman only—a letter written according to the rules of feminine epistolary style.
[36]Fumisignifies here a letter written by a woman only—a letter written according to the rules of feminine epistolary style.
[37]Jun surumeans to be obedient unto death. The wordjunhas a much stronger signification than that which attaches to our word "obedience" in these modern times.
[37]Jun surumeans to be obedient unto death. The wordjunhas a much stronger signification than that which attaches to our word "obedience" in these modern times.
[37]Jun surumeans to be obedient unto death. The wordjunhas a much stronger signification than that which attaches to our word "obedience" in these modern times.
[38]The tortoise is supposed to live for a thousand years.
[38]The tortoise is supposed to live for a thousand years.
[38]The tortoise is supposed to live for a thousand years.
[39]Abbreviation ofkannin, "forbearance," "self-control," etc. The name might equally well be translated "Patience."
[39]Abbreviation ofkannin, "forbearance," "self-control," etc. The name might equally well be translated "Patience."
[39]Abbreviation ofkannin, "forbearance," "self-control," etc. The name might equally well be translated "Patience."
[40]Kanasignifies the Japanese syllabary,—the characters with which the language is written. The reader may imagine, if he wishes, that the name signifies the Alpha and Omega of all feminine charm; but I confess that I have not been able to find any satisfactory explanation of it.
[40]Kanasignifies the Japanese syllabary,—the characters with which the language is written. The reader may imagine, if he wishes, that the name signifies the Alpha and Omega of all feminine charm; but I confess that I have not been able to find any satisfactory explanation of it.
[40]Kanasignifies the Japanese syllabary,—the characters with which the language is written. The reader may imagine, if he wishes, that the name signifies the Alpha and Omega of all feminine charm; but I confess that I have not been able to find any satisfactory explanation of it.
[41]The word "service" here refers especially to attendance at meal-time,—to the serving of rice, etc.
[41]The word "service" here refers especially to attendance at meal-time,—to the serving of rice, etc.
[41]The word "service" here refers especially to attendance at meal-time,—to the serving of rice, etc.
[42]Perhaps in the hopeful meaning of extending the family-line; but more probably in the signification that a daughter's care prolongs the life of her parents, or of her husband's parents.
[42]Perhaps in the hopeful meaning of extending the family-line; but more probably in the signification that a daughter's care prolongs the life of her parents, or of her husband's parents.
[42]Perhaps in the hopeful meaning of extending the family-line; but more probably in the signification that a daughter's care prolongs the life of her parents, or of her husband's parents.
[43]Abbreviation ofsakubun, a literary composition.
[43]Abbreviation ofsakubun, a literary composition.
[43]Abbreviation ofsakubun, a literary composition.
[44]As a matter of fact, we have no English equivalent for the word "sen," or "sennin,"—signifying a being possessing magical powers of all kinds and living for thousands of years. Some authorities consider the belief insenninof Indian origin, and probably derived from old traditions of the Rishi.
[44]As a matter of fact, we have no English equivalent for the word "sen," or "sennin,"—signifying a being possessing magical powers of all kinds and living for thousands of years. Some authorities consider the belief insenninof Indian origin, and probably derived from old traditions of the Rishi.
[44]As a matter of fact, we have no English equivalent for the word "sen," or "sennin,"—signifying a being possessing magical powers of all kinds and living for thousands of years. Some authorities consider the belief insenninof Indian origin, and probably derived from old traditions of the Rishi.
[45]Such a name may signify that the parents resolved, after the birth of the girl, to have no more children.
[45]Such a name may signify that the parents resolved, after the birth of the girl, to have no more children.
[45]Such a name may signify that the parents resolved, after the birth of the girl, to have no more children.
[46]This extraordinary name is probably to be explained as a reference to date of birth. According to the old Chinese astrology, years, months, days, and hours were all named after the Signs of the Zodiac, and were supposed to have some mystic relation to those signs. I surmise that Miss Ushi was born at the Hour of the Ox, on the Day of the Ox, in the Month of the Ox and the Year of the Ox—"Ushi no Toshi no Ushi no Tsuki no Ushi no Hi no Ushi no Koku."
[46]This extraordinary name is probably to be explained as a reference to date of birth. According to the old Chinese astrology, years, months, days, and hours were all named after the Signs of the Zodiac, and were supposed to have some mystic relation to those signs. I surmise that Miss Ushi was born at the Hour of the Ox, on the Day of the Ox, in the Month of the Ox and the Year of the Ox—"Ushi no Toshi no Ushi no Tsuki no Ushi no Hi no Ushi no Koku."
[46]This extraordinary name is probably to be explained as a reference to date of birth. According to the old Chinese astrology, years, months, days, and hours were all named after the Signs of the Zodiac, and were supposed to have some mystic relation to those signs. I surmise that Miss Ushi was born at the Hour of the Ox, on the Day of the Ox, in the Month of the Ox and the Year of the Ox—"Ushi no Toshi no Ushi no Tsuki no Ushi no Hi no Ushi no Koku."
It will be observed that in the above list the names referring to Constancy, Forbearance, and Filial Piety have the highest numbers attached to them.
A fewof the more important rules in regard to Japanese female names must now be mentioned.
The great majority of theseyobinaare words of two syllables. Personal names of respectable women, belonging to the middle and lower classes, are nearly always dissyllables—except in cases where the name is lengthened by certain curious suffixes which I shall speak of further on. Formerly a name of three or more syllables indicated that the bearer belonged to a superior class. But, even among the upper classes to-day, female names of only two syllables are in fashion.
Among the people it is customary that a female name of two syllables should be preceded by the honorific "O," and followed by the title "San,"—asO-Matsu San, "the Honorable Miss [or Mrs.] Pine";O-Umé San, "the Honorable Miss Plum-blossom."[47]But if the name happen to have three syllables, the honorific "O" is not used. A woman namedKikuë("Chrysanthemum-Branch") is not addressed as "O-Kikuë San," but only as "Kikuë San."
[47]Under certain conditions of intimacy, both prefix and title are dropped. They are dropped also by the superior in addressing an inferior;—for example, a lady would not address her maid as "O-Yoné San," but merely as "Yoné."
[47]Under certain conditions of intimacy, both prefix and title are dropped. They are dropped also by the superior in addressing an inferior;—for example, a lady would not address her maid as "O-Yoné San," but merely as "Yoné."
[47]Under certain conditions of intimacy, both prefix and title are dropped. They are dropped also by the superior in addressing an inferior;—for example, a lady would not address her maid as "O-Yoné San," but merely as "Yoné."
Before the names of ladies, the honorific "O" is no longer used as formerly,—even when the name consists of one syllable only. Instead of the prefix, an honorific suffix is appended to theyobina,—the suffixko. A peasant girl namedTomiwould be addressed by her equals asO-Tomi San. But a lady of the same name would be addressed asTomiko. Mrs. Shimoda, head-teacher of the Peeresses' School, for example, has the beautiful nameUta. She would be addressed by letter as "Shimoda Utako," and would so sign herself in replying;—the family-name, by Japanese custom, always preceding thepersonal name, instead of being, as with us, placed after it.
This suffixkois written with the Chinese character meaning "child," and must not be confused with the wordko, written with a different Chinese character, and meaning "little," which so often appears in the names of dancing girls. I should venture to say that this genteel suffix has the value of a caressing diminutive, and that the nameAikomight be fairly well rendered by the "Amoretta" of Spenser'sFaerie Queene. Be this as it may, a Japanese lady namedSetsuorSadawould not be addressed in these days as O-Setsu or O-Sada, but as Setsuko or Sadako. On the other hand, if a woman of the people were to sign herself as Setsuko or Sadako, she would certainly be laughed at,—since the suffix would give to her appellation the meaning of "the Lady Setsu," or "the Lady Sada."
I have said that the honorific "O" is placed before theyobinaof women of the middle and lower classes. Even the wife of akurumayawould probably be referred to as the "Honorable Mrs. Such-a-one." But there are veryremarkable exceptions to this general rule regarding the prefix "O." In some country-districts the commonyobinaof two syllables is made a trisyllable by the addition of a peculiar suffix; and before such trisyllabic names the "O" is never placed. For example, the girls of Wakayama, in the Province of Kii, usually have added to theiryobinathe suffix "ë,"[48]signifying "inlet," "bay," "frith,"—sometimes "river." Thus we find such names asNamië("Wave-Bay"),Tomië("Riches-Bay"),Sumië("Dwelling-Bay"),Shizuë("Quiet-Bay"),Tamaë("Jewel-Bay"). Again there is a provincial suffix "no" meaning "field" or "plain," which is attached to the majority of female names in certain districts.Yoshino("Fertile Field"),Uméno("Plumflower Field"),Shizuno("Quiet Field"),Urano("Coast Field"),Utano("Song Field"), are typical names of this class. A girl calledNamiëorKikunois not addressed as "O-Namië San" or "O-Kikuno San," but as "Namië San," "Kikuno San."
[48]This suffix must not be confused with the suffix "ë," signifying "branch," which is also attached to many popular names. Without seeing the Chinese character, you cannot decide whether the nameTamaë, for example, means "Jewel-branch" or "Jewel Inlet."
[48]This suffix must not be confused with the suffix "ë," signifying "branch," which is also attached to many popular names. Without seeing the Chinese character, you cannot decide whether the nameTamaë, for example, means "Jewel-branch" or "Jewel Inlet."
[48]This suffix must not be confused with the suffix "ë," signifying "branch," which is also attached to many popular names. Without seeing the Chinese character, you cannot decide whether the nameTamaë, for example, means "Jewel-branch" or "Jewel Inlet."
"San" (abbreviation ofSama, a word originally meaning "form," "appearance"), when placed after a female name, corresponds to either our "Miss" or "Mrs." Placed after a man's name it has at least the value of our "Mr.",—perhaps even more. The unabbreviated formSamais placed after the names of high personages of either sex, and after the names of divinities: the ShintÅ Gods are styled theKami-Sama, which might be translated as "the Lords Supreme"; the Bodhisattva JizÅ is calledJizÅ-Sama, "the Lord JizÅ." A lady may also be styled "Sama." A lady calledAyako, for instance, might very properly be addressed as Ayako Sama. But when a lady's name, independently of the suffix, consists of more than three syllables, it is customary to drop either thekoor the title. Thus "the Lady Ayamé" would not be spoken of as "Ayaméko Sama," but more euphoniously as "Ayamé Sama,"[49]or as "Ayaméko."
[49]"Ayamé Sama," however, is rather familiar; and this form cannot be used by a stranger in verbal address, though a letter may be directed with the name so written. As a rule, thekois the more respectful form.
[49]"Ayamé Sama," however, is rather familiar; and this form cannot be used by a stranger in verbal address, though a letter may be directed with the name so written. As a rule, thekois the more respectful form.
[49]"Ayamé Sama," however, is rather familiar; and this form cannot be used by a stranger in verbal address, though a letter may be directed with the name so written. As a rule, thekois the more respectful form.
So much having been said as regards the etiquette of prefixes and suffixes, I shall nowattempt a classification of female names,—beginning with popularyobina. These will be found particularly interesting, because they reflect something of race-feeling in the matter of ethics and æsthetics, and because they serve to illustrate curious facts relating to Japanese custom. The first place I have given to names of purely moral meaning,—usually bestowed in the hope that the children will grow up worthy of them. But the lists should in no case be regarded as complete: they are only representative. Furthermore, I must confess my inability to explain the reason of many names, which proved as much of riddles to Japanese friends as to myself.
The next list will appear at first sight more heterogeneous than it really is. It contains a larger variety of appellations than the previous list; but nearly all of theyobinarefer to some good quality which the parents trust that the child will display, or to some future happiness which they hope that she will deserve. To thelatter category belong such names of felicitation asMiyoandMasayo.
[50]From the strange verbkaneru, signifying, to do two things at the same time.
[50]From the strange verbkaneru, signifying, to do two things at the same time.
[50]From the strange verbkaneru, signifying, to do two things at the same time.
[51]One is reminded of, "O whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad"—but no Japanese female name could have the implied signification. More probably the reference is to household obedience.
[51]One is reminded of, "O whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad"—but no Japanese female name could have the implied signification. More probably the reference is to household obedience.
[51]One is reminded of, "O whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad"—but no Japanese female name could have the implied signification. More probably the reference is to household obedience.
[52]Such is the meaning of the characters. I cannot understand the name. A Buddhist explanation suggests itself; but there are few, if any, Buddhistyobina.
[52]Such is the meaning of the characters. I cannot understand the name. A Buddhist explanation suggests itself; but there are few, if any, Buddhistyobina.
[52]Such is the meaning of the characters. I cannot understand the name. A Buddhist explanation suggests itself; but there are few, if any, Buddhistyobina.
[53]This beautiful name refers to the silence and calm following a heavy snowfall. But, even for the Japanese, it is an æsthetic name also—suggesting both tranquillity and beauty.
[53]This beautiful name refers to the silence and calm following a heavy snowfall. But, even for the Japanese, it is an æsthetic name also—suggesting both tranquillity and beauty.
[53]This beautiful name refers to the silence and calm following a heavy snowfall. But, even for the Japanese, it is an æsthetic name also—suggesting both tranquillity and beauty.
[54]The name seems curious, in view of the common proverb,Raku wa ku no tané,—"Pleasure is the seed of pain."
[54]The name seems curious, in view of the common proverb,Raku wa ku no tané,—"Pleasure is the seed of pain."
[54]The name seems curious, in view of the common proverb,Raku wa ku no tané,—"Pleasure is the seed of pain."
[55]Not necessarily a real foundling. Sometimes the name may be explained by a curious old custom. In a certain family several children in succession die shortly after birth. It is decided, according to traditional usage, that the next child born must be exposed. A girl is the next child born;—she is carried by a servant to some lonely place in the fields, or elsewhere, and left there. Then a peasant, or other person, hired for the occasion (it is necessary that he should be of no kin to the family), promptly appears, pretends to find the babe, and carries it back to the parental home. "See this pretty foundling," he says to the father of the girl,—"will you not take care of it?" The child is received, and named "Suté," the foundling. By this innocent artifice, it was formerly (and perhaps in some places is still) supposed that those unseen influences, which had caused the death of the other children, might be thwarted.
[55]Not necessarily a real foundling. Sometimes the name may be explained by a curious old custom. In a certain family several children in succession die shortly after birth. It is decided, according to traditional usage, that the next child born must be exposed. A girl is the next child born;—she is carried by a servant to some lonely place in the fields, or elsewhere, and left there. Then a peasant, or other person, hired for the occasion (it is necessary that he should be of no kin to the family), promptly appears, pretends to find the babe, and carries it back to the parental home. "See this pretty foundling," he says to the father of the girl,—"will you not take care of it?" The child is received, and named "Suté," the foundling. By this innocent artifice, it was formerly (and perhaps in some places is still) supposed that those unseen influences, which had caused the death of the other children, might be thwarted.
[55]Not necessarily a real foundling. Sometimes the name may be explained by a curious old custom. In a certain family several children in succession die shortly after birth. It is decided, according to traditional usage, that the next child born must be exposed. A girl is the next child born;—she is carried by a servant to some lonely place in the fields, or elsewhere, and left there. Then a peasant, or other person, hired for the occasion (it is necessary that he should be of no kin to the family), promptly appears, pretends to find the babe, and carries it back to the parental home. "See this pretty foundling," he says to the father of the girl,—"will you not take care of it?" The child is received, and named "Suté," the foundling. By this innocent artifice, it was formerly (and perhaps in some places is still) supposed that those unseen influences, which had caused the death of the other children, might be thwarted.