ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3088 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3088 ************************************ 12 Nov 2005 From: Gunnvor Silfraharr Greetings from the Academy of St. Gabriel! You asked us to evaluate as a masculine Japanese name in the 14th century. Here is what we found. The custom of using three-element names, consisting of a family name and two given names (the yobina and the nanori), probably developed late in the Hei'an period (794-1185) among the class of provincial lieutenant governors and local military leaders [1]. Members of the noble class in period Japan used three-part names: The nanori was your given name; the yobina was essentially a second given name used only by those intimate with you. Everyone else would address you by your family name and/or nanori. The family name you suggested is : we will use the spelling , with the apostrophe indicating the division between syllables. We were not able to find a family name of in your period. However, the kanji "stone" and "hill" both occur. The construction in the name is quite reasonable, since it is in use today for a modern city founded in 1954 and is also found as a modern Japanese surname [2, 3, 4]. In the Muromachi period (1336-1573), we found a similar name, "stone-slope", [5]. Based on this information, your constructed surname is fine for your period, although an actual name attested in the 14th century would be a better re-creation. is pronounced \ee-shee-oa-kah\, with the \oa\ as in . The yobina you selected is a fairly good choice, with a small change in spelling to , indicating the final vowel is long. We know this name was used during our period, though we don't know precisely when. is composed of kanji that mean "second son" or "next son" [6]. The modern pronunciation of this name is roughly \djee-row\ (as in "row a boat"), but the kanji now read used to be read . We are not certain when the value changed, but we believe that in your period the older reading was used, and the name was pronounced roughly \djee-raw-woo\. The nanori is attested, but of uncertain date [7]. This name is composed of the kanji "well-travelled, learned" and "high quality", and is pronounced \hee-roa-mah-sah\. The word , pronounced roughly like the identical English word, indicates possession in connection with an uji (clan name), or in a construction such as: no When was used, it was never part of the written name, but it was customarily used in speech through the 15th century [8, 9]. Accordingly, we recommend that you do not use with your name. In summary, is a reasonable name for a Japanese man in the 14th century. However, using actual name elements attested in your period would be a better historical re-creation. I hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Alzbeta Michalik, Talan Gwynek, Mari neyn Brian, Arval Benicoeur, and Adelaide de Beaumont. For the Academy, Gunnvor Silfraharr 12 November 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- References [1] Academy of St. Gabriel Report #2587 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2587 [2] "Ishioka, Ibaraki". (WWW: Wikipedia. 2005). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishioka [3] Ishioka City Home Page. http://city.ishioka.lg.jp/ [4] "Secretary Mayuko Ishioka". (WWW: Osaka University Department of Applied Physics Kasai Lab. 2005). http://www.dyn.ap.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp/ishioka.html [5] Solveig Throndardottir, _Name Construction in Mediaeval Japan_ (Carlsbad, N. Mex.: The Outlaw Press, 1994; Potboiler Press, 1999 [Box 30171, Columbia, MO 65205]). p. 153. Names that we've cited from this source without date were used at an uncertain date before 1600. [6] Ibid., p. 209. [7] Ibid., p. 334. [8] Academy of St. Gabriel Report #2587 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2587 [9] Edward Effingham, "Japanese names" in "An Online Japanese Miscellany" (WWW: privately published, 2004). http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/names.html