ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3167 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3167 ************************************ 9 Sep 2006 From: Guaire mac Guaire Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for suggestions as to family names and both personal (given) names for a man living in Japan between 1100 and 1600. You were particularly interested in finding an authentic name similar in meaning to 'shadow blade'. Here is what we found. Starting in the late Heian period (12th century) onwards, male members of the noble class in period Japan used three part names: The nanori was the name which appeared on official documents, and was the name that a warrior proclaimed before combat with a worthy adversary; the use of a nanori was a privilege confined to the male members of the courtier and military classes. The yobina was essentially a second given name, used socially; the yobina was not a nickname, but rather a less formal name used in conversation. There were exceptions to this construction, but in general, this is the form we find most useful in developing complete period names. We could find no evidence supporting a compound meaning 'shadow blade' as a Japanese masculine name. [1] We did find a kanji 'shadow' (in the sense of 'shade', not 'silhouette') that is found in a nanori of the Nanboku period (1336-1392). However, it is likely that in this nanori it has a metaphorical sense of social advancement due to the stature of one's grandparents. (Roughly speaking, the idea is that the bearer is in the shade of their influence.) [2] The first kanji, , means 'grow tall; pile up'. The name is pronounced roughly \tah-kah- kah-geh\. The kanji , meaning , was the closest semantic match to that we could find. All of the documented nanori listings for this kanji were feminine. The biggest problem with trying to construct a compound name that means 'shadow blade' is that the kanji for 'shadow' has a Japanese reading and the kanji for 'blade' has a Chinese reading. The Japanese and Chinese readings would not be combined in a single name. The nanori would be an acceptable given name for a Japanese noble living during the period 1100-1600, but it has only a remote connection to 'shadow blade'. To build a complete medieval Japanese name, you will need to add two more elements: a yobina and a family name from the same period as the nanori. We suggest that you review the following for help in selecting appropriate names. "Japanese Names" http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/miscellany/names.html "Japanese Formal Masculine Given Names" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/solveig/nanori/ The 'Japanese Names' section of the Academy's Medieval Names Archive http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/otherasian.shtml#japanese We'll be happy to research the complete name you select and to give you pronunciations for any of the elements which appeal to you. I hope this letter has been useful. Please write to 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 Ari Ansson, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Mari neyn Brian, and Talan Gwynek. For the Academy, Guaire mac Guaire 9 September 2006 ----------- References: [1] Solveig Throndardottir, Name Construction in Mediaeval Japan (Potboiler Press, 2004 [Box 30171, Columbia, MO 65205]); s.nn. , . [2] Solveig Throndardottir, op. cit., p. 183.