ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2779 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2779 ************************************ ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Later research turned up additional * * information relevant to this report. * * See the end of the letter for details. * * * ************************************************* 31 Oct 2003 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if is an appropriate name for a Japanese man living between 1450 and 1600. Here is the information we have found. The structure of your name is + + , which is appropriate for your period. The nanori was your official given name, while the yobina was essentially an everyday given name, used only by those intimate with you. Everyone else would address you by your family name and/or nanori. We find the family name recorded in the Sengoku period, which ended in 1568. It is a fine choice. [1] It was pronounced \kee-noh-shee-tah\, with equal emphasis on each syllable. The yobina appears to be constructed from the elements 'dragon' and 'two'. Unfortunately, we have not found any examples of this before modern times, and so cannot recommend that you use this as your yobina. In fact, we were able to find only two examples of yobina that have an animal as part of the name. In both cases the animal is 'turtle/tortoise (longevity)', and in these names is the second part of the name, not the first part. [2] We also find two nanori transliterated as , one from the Kamakura period, which ended in 1332, and one from the Muromachi period, which ended in 1572. [2] This was pronounced \yoh-shee-mee-tsoo\, also with equal stress on each syllable. We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you won't hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Talan Gwynek, Arval Benicoeur, Juliana de Luna, Mari neyn Brian, Solveig Throndardottir, Richenda de Jardin, Laurensa de Chambord, Ursula Georges, and Adelaide de Beaumont. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael -- References: [1] Solveig Throndardottir, _Name Construction in Mediaeval Japan_ (Carlsbad, N. Mex.: The Outlaw Press, 1994; Potboiler Press, 1999 [Box 30171, Columbia, MO 65205]). p.319 [2] ibid p.365 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Corrections, Arval, 15 Oct 2004: Fixed a couple typos.