ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2118 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2118 ************************************ From: "Sara L Friedemann" 20 Oct 2000 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know if would be an appropriate Japanese feminine name for the period between 950 and 1550. You also wanted to know if "fox" could have been used as a given name. Here is the information we have found. The transliteration represents two names, written with different kanji. We have an example of one from the Nanboku period, which ended in 1392, and of the other from the Heian, which ended in 1147. Either would be a fine choice for your given name. [1] is the surname of the author you mentioned, who was born in the 970's, in the Heian period. [2] While we did not find any other historical citations of this name, it nonetheless seems to be a plausible surname for the Heian period. We found four surnames with the element "village," and eight surnames with the element <-saki> "slope." [1] The surnames with translate as "village well," "above the village," "village rice paddy," and "village mountain." Based on these, the combination "village slope," , seems quite reasonable. We were unable to find any evidence that Japanese women were named after animals. We did, however, find a name that might interest you if you simply like the sound and don't care about the meaning: , found in the 8th century, and meaning "tangerine." [1] We hope that this letter has been useful to you, and that you will not hesitate to write again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Talan Gwynek, Juliana de Luna, Adeliza de Saviniaco, and Mari neyn Brian. For the Academy, ~Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 20Oct00 --------------------------------------- References: [1] Solveig Throndardottir, _Name Construction in Mediaeval Japan_ (Carlsbad, N. Mex.: The Outlaw Press, 1994; Potboiler Press, 1999 [Box 30171, Columbia, MO 65205]). pp. 139, 144, 321, 372 [2] Lady Murasaki's _The Tale of Genji_ http://www.sla.purdue.edu/academic/fll/Japanese/JPNS280/projects/Hines.htm