Japanese surnames are peculiar, and Chinese translators always scold themselves
Historically, the emergence of Japanese surnames can be traced back to the 3rd century BC, when Japanese names were not fixed but changed with factors such as age, occupation, and clan.
It was not until the 8th century AD that Japan introduced Chinese culture and political systems, of which the fixed surname system was the most influential. Since then, many Japanese have started using fixed surnames in place of their traditional names.
The original Japanese surnames were mainly given according to people's job titles or places of residence. For example,"Sato"Meaning:"Zo"(Help)."Vine"(Field), which represents the ancestor of the family as a man who assisted in the fields. "
Yamamoto"Representatives"Mountain"The highest point,"Tanaka"Meaning"Fields"of the center,"Forest"then means:"Forests"Wait a minute. Over time, Japanese surnames have developed a more diverse form that reflects people's identity, status, and occupation, among other things.
For example,"Uesugi"Surnames are often associated with samurai and nobility, while"Tanabe"Surnames may be more peasant. Some surnames may also have been introduced from an alien culture, eg"Ito"The surname is ** in China"Lee"Surname.
There are currently more than 100,000 different surnames in Japan. Among these surnames, the most common are "Sato", "Suzuki", "Takahashi", "Tanaka" and "Watanabe".
However, these surnames are not evenly distributed, with some surnames being more common in specific regions or social classes. For example, "Yokoyama" is more popular in rural areas, while "Shimada" is more popular in the Tokyo area.
Some surnames such as "Sato", "Suzuki" and "Takahashi" are extremely common, while others are relatively rare. These different surnames reflect not only the social changes and regional differences in Japan's history, but also the rich and diverse cultural and social backgrounds.
For example, the surname "Izuda" originates from the former Izu Province in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture.
Many surnames originated from occupations, such as "Kudo", and the character "rattan" was a symbol of the Japanese elite at the time. During the Meiji period, in order to meet the needs of military conscription, taxation, and the creation of household registers, the Meiji Emperor issued the "Civilian Seedling Character Permission Order", which made it possible for all Japanese people to have a surname.
At that time, many civilians took surnames related to the word "rattan" in order to get the light of the word "rattan". In addition, some surnames are derived from ancestral names, such as "Watanabe", which means "riverside".
Its ** may be related to the ancient samurai, as there is a place name "Watanabe" throughout Japan, which refers to the edge of a river or lake. In order to facilitate the command of troops, ancient military generals often used the place name of their place as their surname.
Japanese surnames carry the family's heritage and history, and in most cases, children will carry the surname of their father or grandfather. However, in modern Japan, more and more people tend to choose their mother's surname, or to skillfully merge their parents' surnames to create a completely new surname.
One of the extremely rare surnames is "My Grandson", a surname that has about 100 holders in Japan. Although it may conjure up some derogatory words, in fact, the surname is not derogatory, it has been in Japan for a thousand years and symbolizes an ancient and deep family tradition.
In addition, there are many places in Japan that are called "Abiko", such as "Abiko" in Chiba Prefecture and "Abiko" in Osaka on the eastern side of the Tokyo metropolitan area, and "Abiko" in Shiga Prefecture.
The surname "My grandson" has two main sayings. First, according to the records of the "Ancient Records", there is a place name called "Abigu", which has the same pronunciation as "my grandson", and in order to facilitate writing, people call the two "my grandson".
The second is that there were many immigrants from ancient Japan, including a group of immigrants from the Indochina region, who called them "Abina Gugu", which means "god of fire" in their native language.
After they settled in Chiba, in honor of their ancestors, they called this place "Abinagoku", which means "My grandson".
My grandson"It is not uncommon in Japan, it originated from the palace emigrants, and has a bit of a royal atmosphere. In addition, there are many unique surnames in Japan, such as:"Aso", its pronunciation and in Japanese"Woollen cloth"Similar, in fact, comes from Dutch.
Another example"Hosoya", probably named because their ancestral family was located in a valley. In Japan, these peculiar surnames are not uncommon.
Some surnames are derived from animals, such as:"Kumamoto"Representatives"Habitat of bears"。While"Well fish", it is"Fish in the well"symbolizes the people by the fish pond.
And there is"Nakano", which is one of the top 50 common surnames in Japan, is derived from where ancestors lived"Nakano"place. The origin of these surnames reflects an ancient custom where people use their local name as their surname to distinguish themselves from others.
Yamada", one of the most common surnames in Japan, is said to be used by more than 3.5 million people. The origin of the name is derived from the place where their ancestors lived in the mountains or at the foot of the mountains.
Although "Yamada" is very common in Japan, it is really just a collective noun used to identify those who live in the mountains or at the foot of a mountain. As a result, people who use the surname "Yamada" may not know each other well in different regions.
The surname "Oni Head" is full of mystery and legend, and it originates from the heroic deeds of a heroic warrior who wore a ghost head mask on the battlefield. In Japanese culture, oni is seen as a being with unique abilities and is sometimes a symbol of a guardian deity.
Thus, the surname also conveys courage and strength to be fearless in battle.
Leeches"The origin of the surname is quite interesting, which means"Leeches"and sounds unique. It is said that the surname originated from a doctor who was known for his unique methods, and he was good at using leeches for medical and cosmetic purposes.
In ancient Japan, leeches were widely used in the medical and cosmetic fields, so this doctor may have received this special surname for his unique ** method.
Flavor recipe"The origin of the surname can be traced back to a team of valiant samurai, who fought bravely and were revered"Allies"。In Japanese,"Flavor recipe"Meaning"us"or"Allies", which contains a positive meaning.
Katagani", derived from the name of a hunter, alludes to the way of life of hunting in the valley. This surname not only reflects the awe of nature, but also the love and persistence of hunting life.
The origin of the surname "Kanda" is quite legendary, and it literally means "turtle field", as if you can feel the harmony and tranquility of nature. It is said that this surname ** is derived from a man named "Kamata", whose family lives in a place surrounded by fields, which makes the surname "Kamata" have a strong rural atmosphere.
Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Japan practiced a "family name system" in which each family had its own family name and passed it on to future generations. However, this system has been unable to adapt to the development of society, limiting people's social mobility and employment opportunities.
In 1870, Meiji** promulgated the Surname Ordinance, abolishing the family surname system and implementing a modern surname system based on individuals. This system gives people the right to choose their family name freely, changing the rule that family names must be used in the past.
This change not only improves social mobility and employment opportunities, but also contributes to the building of a modern state and society. In addition, it eliminates social injustice and discrimination, as all people have the right to choose their own family name, regardless of social class and status.
During the Meiji Restoration, the surname reform implemented in Japan had a profound impact on society. This reform helped to promote modernization, Westernization, and globalization in Japan.
In addition, surname reform has also helped to eliminate social inequality and discrimination and improve the social status and dignity of the people. Nowadays, in Japan, the choice of surname is seen as an individual's freedom and right.
The wife follows the husband's surname, which originated in China and the Korean Peninsula but has been practiced in Japan for more than 1,000 years.
In the old Japanese culture, the family had a high status, and all property, land, and rights within the family were managed by the head of the family, and the family honor needed to be maintained by the joint efforts of all family members.
Therefore, it is believed that a woman taking her husband's surname after marriage can ensure the unity and stability of the family. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the custom of taking their husband's surname was still very popular in Japan, and most women chose to change their surname and follow their husband's surname after marriage.
However, under the influence of the women's liberation movement and social change, more and more women began to rebel against this traditional custom, choosing to keep their surnames or merge the surnames of both spouses.
In order to respect and encourage individual choice, Japan** amended the Marriage Law in 2003 to allow couples to freely choose their family name. This includes not only keeping the respective surnames, but also choosing a new surname as the family surname.
However, according to 2018 data, more than 95% of Japanese women choose to take their husband's surname, which shows that in real life, the phenomenon of wives taking their husband's surname is still very common in Japan.
The surname system originated in the 7th century AD and was introduced from China. However, it was not until the Edo period (1603-1868) that the surname system was widely used in Japan.
Until then, most Japanese people did not have a surname, but instead used their personal or father's name with a specific title. This change reflects the evolution of Japanese society and the emphasis placed on individual freedom and choice.
In Japan, the surname is often the symbol of the family and is traditionally decided by the father's side. But since the implementation of the Personal Names Act in 1985, women have more options, either to keep their surname or to take their husband's surname after marriage.
However, according to the survey, despite this choice, about 95% of women still choose to change their surname after marriage. Surnames play an important role in the inheritance of a family business or wealth.
In many families, sons are considered heirs to the family name, while daughters take their husband's surname after marriage. Although this cultural tradition is still very common in Japanese society, more and more people are now trying to break this tradition by choosing their daughters as family heirs and passing on their surnames to them.
The surname is like the bloodline of the family, symbolizing the continuation and inheritance of the family. In China, the continuation of the clan is regarded as an important mission of the family. Ancient people believed that people with the same surname were related by the same origin and ancestry, so they attached great importance to the inheritance of surnames.
At the same time, surnames are also an integral part of cultural heritage. Chinese surnames have a long history and contain rich historical and cultural backgrounds and stories. Many surnames have far-reaching cultural connotations, such as the descendants of Confucius have Kong, and the descendants of the famous general Yue Fei have Yue, etc., these surnames carry China's cultural heritage and historical memory.
A surname is not only an identifier for a person, but also a reflection of social status and identity. In ancient societies, there was a close relationship between the surname and the level of status. Some surnames represent nobility and power, symbolizing noble status and honor, while others represent ordinary people, reflecting the characteristics of simplicity and authenticity.
Finally, the family name is also a family emotional connection. In China, the inheritance of surnames is actually a continuation of family feelings. In Chinese culture, which has a deep sense of family, the surname symbolizes the bloodline, inheritance and continuation of the family, and is the connection of family emotions.
Therefore, many families will hold activities such as the construction of family ancestral halls and the repair of family trees to protect and inherit the family traditions and culture.