Names Difficult To Classify Or Explain

O-Fuku "Raiment,"--clothing.

Possibly this name belongs to the same class as O-Nui ("Embroidery"), O-Some ("The Dyer"); but I am not sure.

O-Fune "Ship,"--or Boat. O-Hina "Doll,"--a paper doll?

Probably a name of caress. The word hina is applied especially to the little paper dolls made by hand for amusement,--representing young ladies with elaborate coiffure; and it is also given to the old-fashioned dolls representing courtly personages in full ceremonial costume. The true doll--doll-baby--is called ningyo.

O-Kono "This." O-Nao "Still More." O-Nari "Thunder-peal." O-Nibo "Palanquin" (?). O-Rai "Thunder." O-Rui "Sort,"--kind, species. O-Suzu "Little Bell."

Perhaps this name is given because of the sweet sound of the suzu,--a tiny metal ball, with a little stone or other hard object inside, to make the ringing.--It is a pretty Japanese custom to put one of these little suzu in the silk charm-bag (mamori-bukero) which is attached to a child's girdle. The suzu rings with every motion that the child makes,--somewhat like one of those tiny bells which we attach to the neck of a pet kitten.

Suzue "Branch-of-Little-Bells." O-Tada "The Only." Tamaki "Armlet,"--bracelet. O-Tami "Folk,"--common people. O-Toshi "Arrowhead,"--or barb. O-Tsui "Pair,"--match. O-Tsuna "Rope,"--bond. O-Yumi "Bow,"--weapon.

Before passing on to the subject of aristocratic names, I must mention an old rule for Japanese names,--a curious rule that might help to account for sundry puzzles in the preceding lists. This rule formerly applied to all personal names,--masculine or feminine. It cannot be fully explained in the present paper; for a satisfactory explanation would occupy at least fifty pages. But, stated in the briefest possible way, the rule is that the first or "head-character" of a personal name should be made to "accord" (in the Chinese philosophic sense) with the supposed Sei, or astrologically-determined nature, of the person to whom the name is given;--the required accordance being decided, not by the meaning, but by the sound of the Chinese written character. Some vague idea of the difficulties of the subject may be obtained from the accompanying table. (Page 143.)

PHONETIC RELATION OF THE FIVE ELEMENTAL-NATURES TO THE JAPANESE SYLLABARY

a, i, u, e, o. ----------------------- I.--WOOD-NATURE { ka, ki, ku, ke, ko. } { ga, gi, gu, ge, go. } ----------------------- { sa, shi, su, se, so. } { za, ji, zu, ze, zo. } ----------------------- II.--FIRE-NATURE { ta, chi, tsu, te, to. } { da, ji, dzu, de, do. } ----------------------- na, ni, nu, ne, no. III.--EARTH-NATURE ----------------------- { ha, hi, fu, he, ho. } { ba, bi, bu, be, bo. } { pa, pi, pu, pe, po. } ----------------------- IV.--METAL-NATURE ma, mi, mu, me, mo. ----------------------- ya, i, yu, ye, yo. ----------------------- ra, ri, ru, re, ro. V.--WATER-NATURE ----------------------- wa, i, u, ye, wo.]

************************************************************ * * * * * In the table above, there were lines connecting the * * five elements of nature with the lines of Japanese * * syllabary: * * * * The Wood element was associated with the * * ka/ga lines, * * * * the Fire element was associated with the * * ta/da, na, and ra lines, * * * * the Earth element was associated with the * * a, ka/ga, ya, and wa lines, * * * * the Metal element was associated with the * * sa/za lines, and * * * * the Water element was associated with the * * ha/ba/pa, and ma lines. * * * ************************************************************