On the Internet, we often see Chinese netizens sharing all kinds of bizarre Japanese names, which is ridiculous. For the Chinese, names are extremely important, and even in ancient times, naming needed to take into account the actual situation. However, in comparison, we think that Japanese names seem to be regular, such as "Inukai So-and-so", "Nobie Nobita", etc. These names may seem like swear words in China, but they are considered normal surnames in Japan. So, how did the Japanese come up with their names?Why are some people's names so bizarre?
The history of Japanese surnames.
It's no secret that much of Japan's culture comes from China, including the ancient history of Xu Fuku, a priest who led 500 boys and girls to Japan. At that time, Japan was in the Yayoi period, the level of civilization was low, people only had names but no surnames, and even the names were quite peculiar. In view of the limitations of the level of civilization, people choose names according to the order of size in order to make it easier to remember, such as Ichiro, Jiro, Saburo, etc.
It was not until the 4th century that Japan broke away from primitive society and began to introduce Chinese culture and learn Xi Chinese culture, including the use of names. However, initially only the aristocracy had surnames, and the common people still had only first names. The surname ** between nobles is the position held by the clan in the court or the place where the clan resides and governs. This naming method is similar to the surname system of the Spring and Autumn period in China.
It is worth mentioning that the Japanese emperor, as a descendant of the gods, believed that there was no need for a surname at all, so from ancient times to the present, the emperor only had a first name and no surname. And in the naming of members of the royal family, men must have the character "benevolence" and women have the character "zi". For example, the name of Emperor Showa, the real culprit in the war of aggression against China, was Hirohito. Other members of the royal family will also use "palace" instead of "palace" when addressing them.
As time went on, the number of descendants of the imperial family increased, and the Japanese imperial family regularly devolved remote members of the imperial family to local areas, and the naming method changed accordingly, based on local names.
Therefore, in ancient Japan, the nobility and samurai class, in particular, were eligible to have names, while ordinary commoners did not have this right.
After the Meiji Restoration, Japanese names flourished.
With the Meiji Restoration, Japan began to fully Xi the political system of the West, and one of its first tasks was to compile a register of the country's population. However, at that time, the Japanese people generally only had a first name without a surname, and the difference in names was not large, which made it difficult to count.
Therefore, in order to achieve a national demographic figure, Japan abolished the rule that only nobles and samurai could have surnames, stipulating that ordinary people could also have surnames. However, at that time, when Japan had just emerged from the feudal system and had a low level of education, many people could not obtain literate names, so they had to take surnames casually.
As a result, a variety of strange surnames came into being. Some people take the name of the place where they live, such as the mountain pass, the mountain down;Some people are named after their professions, such as Watanabe;There are also people who use "animal" names, such as "Inukai" and "Kameda", which are considered mascots in Japanese culture, so this way of naming is considered a compliment to them.
Of course, there are also some special surnames, such as "Abiko City" from Chiba Prefecture, whose surname ** is based on geographical location.
Overall, after the Meiji Restoration, due to social changes and cultural integration, Japanese names showed a tendency to be bizarre. Some chose to use names from ancient figures, while others retained traditional cultural characteristics, making Japanese names diverse and unique at the time.
Epilogue. Overall, Japanese names have a unique history that traces the development of civilization, aristocracy, and social changes during the Meiji Restoration. This uniqueness imbues Japanese names with a sense of diversity and mystery, making them a part of Japanese culture that cannot be ignored. By delving into the origins and evolution of Japanese names, we are better able to understand the country's colorful history and culture.
This article delves into the unique historical origins of Japanese names, from the development of ancient civilizations and the aristocracy to the social changes of the Meiji Restoration, and elaborates on the reasons behind the formation of Japanese names. This gave me a deeper understanding of Japanese naming culture.
First of all, the article vividly depicts the historical background of ancient Japan, where there were only names without surnames, and the process by which the aristocracy distinguished their identities by surnames. This is similar to China's history and shows the cultural consistency of the two countries. Of particular interest is the mention in the article of the Japanese emperor as a descendant of the gods and therefore the need for a surname, which is a striking feature of the uniqueness of Japanese names.
Second, after the Meiji Restoration, Japan's wholesale acceptance of Western culture led to a diversity of names. The article mentions that in the process of social change, ordinary people have also begun to have surnames, and the choice of names has become more arbitrary. This shows the profound impact of the great changes in the social system on the name culture. Especially in the case of low literacy, the way people choose their names is more rich and diverse, which has led to the formation of many peculiar surnames, which makes Japanese names show a strange trend after the Meiji Restoration.
The article also mentions some peculiar surnames**, such as the name of the place of residence, occupation, and animal. These names demonstrate the unique Japanese understanding of life, the environment, and culture, reflecting their respect and love for nature and animals. This cultural difference makes Japanese names poetic and allegorical, in contrast to the way surnames are named in Western countries.
Overall, the article provides readers with a rich and profound cultural journey by examining the evolution of Japanese names. Not only can we understand the organizational structure of ancient Japanese society, but we can also feel the profound impact of the social changes that followed the Meiji Restoration on name culture. This article broadens our horizons and gives us a more comprehensive understanding of the uniqueness of Japanese names.
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