_Ayako_ or } "Damask-pattern."
_O-Aya_[61] }
[61] _Aya-Nishiki_,--the famous figured damask brocade of
Kyoto,--is probably referred to.
_O-Fumi_ "Woman's Letter."
_O-Fusa_ "Tassel."
_O-Ito_ "Thread."
_O-Kama_[62] "Rice-Sickle."
[62] _O-Kama_ (Sickle) is a familiar peasant-name. _O-Kama_
(caldron, or iron cooking-pot), and several other
ugly names in this list are servants' names. Servants
in old time not only trained their children to become
servants, but gave them particular names referring
to their future labors.
_O-Kama_ "Caldron."
_Kazashi_ "Hair-pin."
_O-Kinu_ "Cloth-of-Silk."
_O-Koto_ "Harp."
_O-Nabe_ "Pot,"--or cooking-vessel.
_O-Nui_ "Embroidery."
_O-Shime_ "Clasp,"--ornamental fastening.
_O-Some_ "The Dyer."
_O-Taru_ "Cask,"--barrel.
The following list consists entirely of material nouns used as names.
There are several _yobina_ among them of which I cannot find the
emblematical meaning. Generally speaking, the _yobina_ which signify
precious substances, such as silver and gold, are aesthetic names; and
those which signify common hard substances, such as stone, rock, iron,
are intended to suggest firmness or strength of character. But the name
"Rock" is also sometimes used as a symbol of the wish for long life, or
long continuance of the family line. The curious name _Suna_ has
nothing, however, to do with individual "grit": it is half-moral and
half-aesthetic. Fine sand--especially colored sand--is much prized in
this fairy-land of landscape-gardening, where it is used to cover spaces
that must always be kept spotless and beautiful, and never
trodden,--except by the gardener.