[36] _Fumi_ signifies here a letter written by a woman only--a letter written according to the rules of feminine epistolary style.

_Fumino_ ("Letter-field") 1 _Fusa_ ("Ta.s.sel") 3 _Gin_ ("Silver") 2 _Hama_ ("Sh.o.r.e") 3 _Hana_ ("Blossom") 3 _Harue_ ("Spring-time Bay") 1 _Hatsu_ ("The First-born") 2 _Hide_ ("Excellent") 4 _Hide_ ("Fruitful") 2 _Hisano_ ("Long Plain") 2 _Ichi_ ("Market") 4 _Iku_ ("Nourishing") 3 _Ine_ ("Springing Rice") 3 _Ishi_ ("Stone") 1 _Ito_ ("Thread") 4 _Iwa_ ("Rock") 1 _Jun_ ("The Obedient")[37] 1

[37] _Jun suru_ means to be obedient unto death. The word _jun_ has a much stronger signification than that which attaches to our word "obedience" in these modern times.

_Kagami_ ("Mirror") 3 _Kama_ ("Sickle") 1 _Kame_ ("Tortoise") 2 _Kameyo_ ("Generations-of-the-Tortoise")[38] 1

[38] The tortoise is supposed to live for a thousand years.

_Kan_ ("The Forbearing")[39] 11

[39] Abbreviation of _kannin_, "forbearance,"

"self-control," etc. The name might equally well be translated "Patience."

_Kana_ ("Character"--in the sense of written character)[40] 2

[40] _Kana_ signifies the j.a.panese 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.

_Kane_ ("Bronze") 3 _Katsu_ ("Victorious") 2 _Kazashi_ ("Hair-pin,"--or any ornament worn in the hair) 1 _Kazu_ ("Number,"--i.e., "great number") 1 _Kei_ ("The Respectful") 3 _Ken_ ("Humility") 1 _Kiku_ ("Chrysanthemum") 6 _Kikue_ ("Chrysanthemum-branch") 1 _Kikuno_ ("Chrysanthemum-field") 1 _Kimi_ ("Sovereign") 1 _Kin_ ("Gold") 4 _Kinu_ ("Cloth-of-Silk") 1 _Kishi_ ("Beach") 2 _Kiyo_ ("Happy Generations") 1 _Kiyo_ ("Pure") 5 _Ko_ ("Chime,"--the sound of a bell) 1 _Ko_ ("Filial Piety") 11 _Ko_ ("The Fine") 1 _Koma_ ("Filly") 1 _Kome_ ("Cleaned Rice") 1 _Koto_ ("Koto,"--the j.a.panese harp) 4 _k.u.ma_ ("Bear") 1 _k.u.mi_ ("Braid") 1 _Kuni_ ("Capital,"--chief city) 1 _Kuni_ ("Province") 3 _Kura_ ("Treasure-house") 1 _Kurano_ ("Storehouse-field") 1 _Kuri_ ("Chestnut") 1 _Kuwa_ ("Mulberry-tree") 1 _Masa_ ("Straightforward,"--upright) 3 _Masago_ ("Sand") 1 _Masu_ ("Increase") 3 _Masue_ ("Branch-of-Increase") 1 _Matsu_ ("Pine") 2 _Matsue_ ("Pine-branch") 1 _Michi_ ("The Way,"--doctrine) 4 _Mie_ ("Triple Branch") 1 _Mikie_ ("Main-branch") 1 _Mine_ ("Peak") 2 _Mitsu_ ("Light") 5 _Mitsue_ ("Shining Branch") 1 _Morie_ ("Service-Bay")[41] 1

[41] The word "service" here refers especially to attendance at meal-time,--to the serving of rice, etc.

_Naka_ ("The Midmost") 4 _Nami_ ("Wave") 1 _n.o.bu_ ("Fidelity") 6 _n.o.bu_ ("The Prolonger")[42] 1

[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.

_n.o.bue_ ("Lengthening-branch") 1 _Nui_ ("Tapestry,"--or, Embroidery) 1 _Orino_ ("Weaving-Field") 1 _Raku_ ("Pleasure") 3 _Ren_ ("The Arranger") 1 _Riku_ ("Land,"--ground) 1 _Roku_ ("Emolument") 1 _Ryo_ ("Dragon") 1 _Ryu_ ("Lofty") 3 _Sada_ ("The Chaste") 8 _Saki_ ("Cape,"--promontory) 1 _Saku_ ("Composition")[43] 3

[43] Abbreviation of _sakubun_, a literary composition.

_Sato_ ("Home,"--native place) 2 _Sawa_ ("Marsh") 1 _Sei_ ("Force") 1 _Seki_ ("Barrier,"--city-gate, toll-gate, etc.). 3 _Sen_ ("Fairy")[44] 3

[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 in _sennin_ of Indian origin, and probably derived from old traditions of the Rishi.

_Setsu_ ("True,"--tender and true) 2 _Shidzu_ ("The Calmer") 1 _Shidzu_ ("Peace") 2 _Shige_ ("Two-fold") 2 _Shika_ ("Deer") 2 _Shikae_ ("Deer-Inlet") 1 _Shime_ ("The Clasp,"--fastening) 1 _Shin_ ("Truth") 1 _Shina_ ("Goods") 1 _Shina_ ("Virtue") 1 _Shino_ ("Slender Bamboo") 1 _Shirushi_ ("The Proof,"--evidence) 1 _Shun_ ("The Excellent") 1 _Sue_ ("The Last") 2 _Sugi_ ("Cedar,"--cryptomeria) 1 _Sute_ ("Forsaken,"--foundling) 1 _Suzu_ ("Little Bell") 8 _Suzu_ ("Tin") 1 _Suzue_ ("Branch of Little Bells") 1 _Tae_ ("Exquisite") 1 _Taka_ ("Honor") 2 _Taka_ ("Lofty") 9 _Take_ ("Bamboo") 1 _Tama_ ("Jewel") 1 _Tamaki_ ("Ring") 1 _Tame_ ("For-the-Sake-of--") 3 _Tani_ ("Valley") 4 _Tazu_ ("Ricefield-Stork") 1 _Tetsu_ ("Iron") 4 _Toku_ ("Virtue") 2 _Tome_ ("Stop,"--cease)[45] 1

[45] Such a name may signify that the parents resolved, after the birth of the girl, to have no more children.

_Tomi_ ("Riches") 3 _Tomiju_ ("Wealth-and-Longevity") 1 _Tomo_ ("The Friend") 4 _Tora_ ("Tiger") 1 _Toshi_ ("Arrowhead") 1 _Toyo_ ("Abundance") 3 _Tsugi_ ("Next,"--i. e., second in order of birth) 2 _Tsuna_ ("Bond,"--rope, or fetter) 1 _Tsune_ ("The Constant,"--or, as we should say, Constance) 10 _Tsuru_ ("Stork") 4 _Ume_ ("Plum-blossom") 1 _Umegae_ ("Plumtree-spray") 1 _Umeno_ ("Plumtree-field") 2 _Urano_ ("Sh.o.r.e-field") 1 _Ushi_ ("Cow,"--or Ox)[46] 1

[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._"

_Uta_ ("Poem,"--or Song) 1 _Wakana_ ("Young _Na_,"--probably the rape-plant is referred to) 1 _Yae_ ("Eight-fold") 1 _Yasu_ ("The Tranquil") 1 _Yo_ ("The Positive,"--as opposed to Negative or Feminine in the old Chinese philosophy;--therefore, perhaps, Masculine) 1 _Yone_ ("Rice,"--in the old sense of wealth) 4 _Yoshi_ ("The Good") 1 _Yoshino_ ("Good Field") 1 _Yu_ ("The Valiant") 1 _Yuri_ ("Lily") 1

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.

II

A FEW of the more important rules in regard to j.a.panese female names must now be mentioned.

The great majority of these _yobina_ are words of two syllables.

Personal names of respectable women, belonging to the middle and lower cla.s.ses, 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 cla.s.s. But, even among the upper cla.s.ses 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 t.i.tle "San,"--as _O-Matsu San_, "the Honorable Miss [or Mrs.] Pine"; _O-Ume San_, "the Honorable Miss Plum-blossom."[47] But if the name happen to have three syllables, the honorific "O" is not used. A woman named _Kikue_ ("Chrysanthemum-Branch") is not addressed as "O-Kikue San," but only as "Kikue San."

[47] Under certain conditions of intimacy, both prefix and t.i.tle are dropped. They are dropped also by the superior in addressing an inferior;--for example, a lady would not address her maid as "_O-Yone San_," but merely as "_Yone_."

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 the _yobina_,--the suffix _ko_. A peasant girl named _Tomi_ would be addressed by her equals as _O-Tomi San_. But a lady of the same name would be addressed as _Tomiko_. Mrs. Shimoda, head-teacher of the Peeresses' School, for example, has the beautiful name _Uta_. She would be addressed by letter as "Shimoda Utako," and would so sign herself in replying;--the family-name, by j.a.panese custom, always preceding the personal name, instead of being, as with us, placed after it.

This suffix _ko_ is written with the Chinese character meaning "child,"

and must not be confused with the word _ko_, 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 name _Aiko_ might be fairly well rendered by the "Amoretta" of Spenser's _Faerie Queene_.

Be this as it may, a j.a.panese lady named _Setsu_ or _Sada_ would 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 the _yobina_ of women of the middle and lower cla.s.ses. Even the wife of a _kurumaya_ would probably be referred to as the "Honorable Mrs. Such-a-one." But there are very remarkable exceptions to this general rule regarding the prefix "O." In some country-districts the common _yobina_ of 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 their _yobina_ the suffix "_e_,"[48] signifying "inlet," "bay,"

"frith,"--sometimes "river." Thus we find such names as _Namie_ ("Wave-Bay"), _Tomie_ ("Riches-Bay"), _Sumie_ ("Dwelling-Bay"), _Shizue_ ("Quiet-Bay"), _Tamae_ ("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"), _Umeno_ ("Plumflower Field"), _Shizuno_ ("Quiet Field"), _Urano_ ("Coast Field"), _Utano_ ("Song Field"), are typical names of this cla.s.s. A girl called _Namie_ or _Kikuno_ is not addressed as "O-Namie San" or "O-Kikuno San," but as "Namie San," "Kikuno San."

[48] This suffix must not be confused with the suffix "_e_,"

signifying "branch," which is also attached to many popular names. Without seeing the Chinese character, you cannot decide whether the name _Tamae_, for example, means "Jewel-branch" or "Jewel Inlet."

"San" (abbreviation of _Sama_, 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 form _Sama_ is placed after the names of high personages of either s.e.x, and after the names of divinities: the Shinto G.o.ds are styled the _Kami-Sama_, which might be translated as "the Lords Supreme"; the Bodhisattva Jizo is called _Jizo-Sama_, "the Lord Jizo." A lady may also be styled "Sama." A lady called _Ayako_, 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 the _ko_ or the t.i.tle. Thus "the Lady Ayame" would not be spoken of as "Ayameko Sama," but more euphoniously as "Ayame Sama,"[49] or as "Ayameko."

[49] "Ayame 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, the _ko_ is the more respectful form.

So much having been said as regards the etiquette of prefixes and suffixes, I shall now attempt a cla.s.sification of female names,--beginning with popular _yobina_. These will be found particularly interesting, because they reflect something of race-feeling in the matter of ethics and aesthetics, and because they serve to ill.u.s.trate curious facts relating to j.a.panese 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 j.a.panese friends as to myself.

NAMES OF VIRTUES AND PROPRIETIES

_O-Ai_ "Love."

_O-Chie_ "Intelligence."

_O-Chu_ "Loyalty."

_O-Jin_ "Tenderness,"--humanity.

_O-Jun_ "Faithful-to-death."

_O-Kaiyo_ "Forgiveness,"--pardon.

_O-Ken_ "Wise,"--in the sense of moral discernment.

_O-Ko_ "Filial Piety."

_O-Masa_ "Righteous,"--just.

_O-Michi_ "The Way,"--doctrine.

_Misao_ "Honor,"--wifely fidelity.

_O-Nao_ "The Upright,"--honest.

_O-n.o.bu_ "The Faithful."

_O-Rei_ "Propriety,"--in the old Chinese sense.

_O-Retsu_ "Chaste and True."

_O-Ryo_ "The Generous,"--magnanimous.