_O-Fuku_[84] "Raiment,"--clothing.
[84] 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_[85] "Doll,"--a paper doll?
[85] 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_[86] "Little Bell."
[86] 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.)
[Illustration:
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.]
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* *
* Transcriber Note: Explanation of Table *
* *
* 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. *
* *
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