The names of a few Japanese ships are singularly beautiful and poetical
in their meanings; the majority, however, have little significance. As
the meanings of Japanese ship-names are not given in Captain Prince
Louis of Battenberg's interesting “Men-of-War Names,” a glossary of
them is here inserted for reference and information.
All names with the prefix _Chin_ (Chinese _Chen_) are Chinese. The
names of captured Chinese ships have always been retained by the
Japanese, but they have been translated into their own language, _i.e._
as though, when in the past we took the _Téméraire_, we had taken to
calling her _The Rash_.
I am indebted to my friends Commander Takarabé and Lieutenant Yamamoto,
both of the Imperial Japanese Navy, for the meanings of these
ship-names.
Adsuma = a mountain with a poetical history.
Asama = a sacred volcanic island in Japan. The present is the second
ship of the name. The first was a pirate frigate that put into a
Japanese port to refit and was seized.
Akagi = a mountain in Japan. Akashi = a beautiful seaside place near
Kobé. Akebono = dawn. Akitsushima = an old name for Japan (poetical).
Asahi = “the (rising) morning sun.” Amagi = name of a mountain in
Japan.
Atago = name of a mountain in Japan.
Chitose = “long life.”
Chiyoda = the name of Shogun's castle and Emperor's palace. The
present Chiyoda is the second of the name. (See p. 402.)
Chin Yen = “striking from a long way off.” The name is Chinese.
This ship was formerly the Chinese Chen Yuen.
Chin Nan = striking south.
Chin To = striking east.
Chin Sei = striking west.
Chin Hoku = striking north.
Chin Chaiu = striking midway.
Chin Pen = striking everywhere near.
Fuso = “Japan.”
Fuji = name of the celebrated Japanese mountain, Fuji-Yama.
This is the second ship of the name.
Hashidate = name of a Japanese port.
Hatsuse = a place in Japan celebrated for its maple woods.
Hi-yei = a famous battle mountain in Japan.
Hei Yen = “pacifying a long way off.” This is a captured Chinese
ship, Ping Yuen.
he-Sho = name of a scare bird.
Inadzuma = “lightning.”
Idzumi = a country of Japan.
Ikadzuche = “thunder.”
Itsukushima = a Japanese island.
Idzumo = a province of Japan.
Iwate = name of a place in Japan.
Kaimon = “sea gate.”
Kasagi = a mountain in Japan.
Katsuragi = a mountain in Japan.
Kagero = “the shimmering mist that rises from the earth on a hot
day.”
Kotaka = “a hawk.”
Kasauga = a mountain in Japan.
Kon-go = a famous battle mountain in Japan.
Mikasa = a mountain.
Maya = a Japanese mountain.
Matsushima = a Japanese island.
Musashi = the province in which Toku is situated.
Miyako = a place in Japan.
Murákumo = “a cloud cluster.”
Niji = “rainbow.”
Naniwa = a palace of the Emperor's.
Nisshin = “daily progressing.”
Oshima = “a large island.”
Ousougumo = “thin clouds.”
Obero = “Dim.”
Rio-jo = “powerful as a dragon.” This is a Chinese word.
Shinonome = “daybreak cloud.”
Sai Yen = “helping from a long way off.”
Sazanami = “the pretty, small waves raised by a zephyr.”
Shikishima = an old poetical name for Japan.
Saikio-maru = the merchant steamer Saikio.
Shiranöi = “will-o'-the-wisp.”
Suma = a place in Japan close to Akashi.
So-Ko = Chinese.
Takao = a Japanese town.
Tateyama = name of a Japanese mountain.
Takachiho = name of a sacred place in Japan.
Takasago = “Darby and Joan.” It is the name of a town associated
in poetry with a couple of that nature.
Tatsuta = name of a Japanese mountain.
Tenriu = a river in Japan.
Tsukuba = a mountain in Japan.
Tokiwa = “evergreen.”
Tsukushi = a Japanese town.
Yashima = “Japan.”
Yaxyama = an island mountain.
Yamato = a Japanese province. Also an old name for Japan
(poetical).
Yoshino = a mountain in Japan famous for its beautiful
cherry-blossom; hence “cherry-blossom.”