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Members of the [[scholar-aristocracy of Ryukyu|scholar-aristocracies]] of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] typically had several names. In addition to childhood names (''warabina'', 童名), they would typically have a Chinese-style name (''karana'', 唐名), and a Ryukyuan name paired with their title, as well as a family lineage name.  

Members of the [[scholar-aristocracy of Ryukyu|scholar-aristocracies]] of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] typically had several names. In addition to childhood names (''warabina'', 童名), they would typically have a Chinese-style name (''karana'', 唐名), and a Ryukyuan name paired with their title, as well as a family lineage name.

To give one example, the scholar-official [[Nakijin Chogi|Nakijin Chôgi]] ([[1702]]-[[1787]]) was ''[[anji]]'' and ''[[jito (Ryukyu)|jitô]]'' of [[Nakijin]] (this was the territory he administered, or held in fief); combined with his Ryukyuan name Chôgi, he is thus known as Nakijin Chôgi　今帰仁朝義 or Nakijin ''anji'' Chôgi. However, he was also head of the [[Gushikawa family]] 具志川家, a branch of the [[Sho Dynasty|royal family]], and bore the Chinese-style name Shô Senbo 向宣謨. His father, [[Nakijin Choki|Nakijin Chôki]] 今帰仁朝季, bore the same title of "''anji'' of Nakijin," the same Chinese-style surname Shô, and the same Ryukyuan family name of Gushikawa, but a different "given name" Chôki, and a different Chinese "given name" as well.

To give one example, the scholar-official [[Nakijin Chogi|Nakijin Chôgi]] ([[1702]]-[[1787]]) was ''[[anji]]'' and ''[[jito (Ryukyu)|jitô]]'' of [[Nakijin]] (this was the territory he administered, or held in fief); combined with his Ryukyuan name Chôgi, he is thus known as Nakijin Chôgi　今帰仁朝義 or Nakijin ''anji'' Chôgi 今帰仁按司朝義. However, he was also head of the [[Gushikawa family]] 具志川家, a branch of the [[Sho Dynasty|royal family]], and bore the Chinese-style name Shô Senbo 向宣謨. His father, [[Nakijin Choki|Nakijin Chôki]] 今帰仁朝季, bore the same title of "''anji'' of Nakijin," the same Chinese-style surname Shô, and the same Ryukyuan family name of Gushikawa, but a different "given name" Chôki, and a different Chinese-style "given name" as well.

Meanwhile, as families divided into collateral branches, particularly within rural villages, a system known as ''yaa n naa'' ("house names") developed. For more on main and branch houses in Ryûkyû, see [[house names in Ryukyu]].

[[File:Jana-ueekata-tei-do.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The inscription on a monument near [[Naminoue Shrine]], reading Tei Dô [[Jana ueekata]] Rizan ''kenshô hi'' (monument), thus showing his multiple names.]]

===Ryukyu-style Names===

===Ryukyu-style Names===

One of the surname-like referents by which many Ryukyuan figures are known today is by the placename of their fief, or of the area they administered. As in the example given above, particular ''anji'' ("lords") of Nakijin were known as Nakijin Chôgi, Nakijin Chôki, and [[Nakijin Choei|Nakijin Chôei]]. The famous figure of [[Jana ueekata|Jana ''ueekata'']], who died in [[1611]] rather than submit to [[Satsuma han]] authority, serves as a good illustration of this mode as well; though he is by far the most famous figure to hold the title of "''ueekata'' of Jana," this is merely a title, not an individual name, and many would have shared that title over history. This particular figure might be more specifically identified by his Ryukyu-style name Jana Rizan 謝名利山, or by his Chinese-style name Tei Dô (C: ''Zhèng Dòng'') 鄭迵.

One of the surname-like referents by which many Ryukyuan figures are known today is by the placename of their fief, or of the area they administered. As in the example given above, ''anji'' ("lords") of Nakijin included individuals known as Nakijin Chôgi, Nakijin Chôki, and [[Nakijin Choei|Nakijin Chôei]]. The famous figure of [[Jana ueekata|Jana ''ueekata'']], who died in [[1611]] rather than submit to [[Satsuma han]] authority, serves as a good illustration of this mode as well; though he is by far the most famous figure to hold the title of "''ueekata'' of Jana," this is merely a title, not an individual name, and many would have shared that title over history. This particular figure might be more specifically identified by his Ryukyu-style name Jana Rizan 謝名利山, or by his Chinese-style name Tei Dô (C: ''Zhèng Dòng'') 鄭迵.

These place-based names changed with an individual's appointment or title, and so while we know historical figures by a particular name today, these names would have changed over the course of an individual's career. For example, the Naha scholar-official known on this Wiki as [[Bai Ien]] ([[1813]]-[[1881]]) was the son of [[Bai Iki|Takazato ''peechin'' Iki]] 高里親雲上唯紀 (or Takazato Iki), and so might be referred to as Takazato Ien, as he moved over the course of his career from Takazato ''chikudun'' to Takazato ''chikudun peechin'' to Takazato ''peechin''; however, in [[1858]], his fief was changed to the village of Fukuchi (or Fukuji) in Kyan ''[[magiri]]'', and as Ien's title changed from Takazato ''peechin'' to Fukuji (or Fukuchi) ''peechin'', so would his appellation change to Fukuji Ien. Following the [[Ryukyu shobun|abolition of the kingdom]] in the 1870s, his family, which had only held the title of Fukuji ''peechin'' for a single generation, and which traced its lineage through the Chinese-style name [[Bai family|Bai]] (貝, C: ''Bèi''), was formally entered into the Japanese ''[[koseki]]'' system of family registers as the Fukuji family. Though these title names typically derived from a placename with which the individual was associated, in some cases, other names were used. Two examples of this are seen in the titles of the Princes of Tamagawa and Matsuyama, neither of which were the proper names of designated fiefs. These invented place-names are known as ''nashima'' 名島.

These place-based names changed with an individual's appointment or title, and so while we know historical figures by a particular name today, these names would have changed over the course of an individual's career. For example, the Naha scholar-official known on this Wiki as [[Bai Ien]] ([[1813]]-[[1881]]) was the son of [[Bai Iki|Takazato ''peechin'' Iki]] 高里親雲上唯紀 (or Takazato Iki), and so might be referred to as Takazato Ien, as he moved over the course of his career from Takazato ''chikudun'' to Takazato ''chikudun peechin'' to Takazato ''peechin''; however, in [[1858]], his fief was changed to the village of Fukuchi (or Fukuji) in Kyan ''[[magiri]]'', and as Ien's title changed from Takazato ''peechin'' to Fukuji (or Fukuchi) ''peechin'', so would his appellation change to Fukuji Ien. Yet, even as the name Takazato or Fukuji, based on title/post, changed, the core lineage name (''yanuna'' or ''yaannaa'', 家ぬ名) did not. For example, even if Nakijin Chôei were to have been moved to a different fief, such as Takazato, he would have remained head of the Gushikawa family, and could still be referred to as Gushikawa Chôei.

These names, based on title/post, would have changed. Note, however, that the core lineage name did not. If Nakijin Chôei were to become Takazato Chôei or Fukuchi Chôei, he would remain head of the Gushikawa family, and could still be referred to as Gushikawa Chôei.

Not all Ryukyuan-style surnames were directly associated with an actual fief, however. In some cases, other names were used. Two examples of this are seen in the titles of the Princes of Tamagawa and Matsuyama, neither of which were the proper names of designated fiefs. These invented place-names are known as ''nashima'' 名島.

Most of these names were originally written in ''hiragana'', and when they came to be written more regularly in ''kanji'' towards the end of the 16th century, the choice of ''kanji'' for a given name remained variable for a time. Thus, Iha (or Ifa) might have been written either 伊波 or 伊覇. This became more settled following the land surveys conducted by Satsuma han in [[1610]]; however, around that same time, beginning in [[1625]], many family names which seemed too similar to regular Japanese usage of name-characters were ordered changed, resulting in the distinctive names which remain in Okinawa today. To give just a few examples, names employing the characters ''mae'' 前, ''fuku'' 福, and ''tomi'' 富 were changed to ''mae'' 真栄, ''fuku'' 譜久, and ''tomi'' 豊見, as in the names Maehira 真栄平, Maezato 真栄里, Fukuyama 譜久山, and Tomiyama　豊見山. Names became further standardized following the [[1689]] implementation by the kingdom government of formal family registers known as ''[[kafu]]'' or ''keizu'', and the [[1721]] compilation of a list of ''magiri'' and village place-names in [[Xu Baoguang|Xu Baoguang's]] ''[[Chuzan denshin roku|Zhōngshān chuán xìn lù]]'', which became the standard renderings of the place-names from then on.

Most of these names were originally written in ''hiragana'', and when they came to be written more regularly in ''kanji'' towards the end of the 16th century, the choice of ''kanji'' for a given name remained variable for a time. Thus, Iha (or Ifa) might have been written either 伊波 or 伊覇. This became more settled following the land surveys conducted by Satsuma han in [[1610]]; however, around that same time, beginning in [[1625]], many family names which seemed too similar to regular Japanese usage of name-characters were ordered changed, resulting in the distinctive names which remain in Okinawa today. To give just a few examples, names employing the characters ''mae'' 前, ''fuku'' 福, and ''tomi'' 富 were changed to ''mae'' 真栄, ''fuku'' 譜久, and ''tomi'' 豊見, as in the names Maehira 真栄平, Maezato 真栄里, Fukuyama 譜久山, and Tomiyama　豊見山. Names became further standardized following the [[1689]] implementation by the kingdom government of formal family registers known as ''[[kafu]]'' or ''keizu'', and the [[1721]] compilation of a list of ''magiri'' and village place-names in [[Xu Baoguang|Xu Baoguang's]] ''[[Chuzan denshin roku|Zhōngshān chuán xìn lù]]'', which became the standard renderings of the place-names from then on. According to some accounts, it was not at all standard for even aristocrats to regularly employ surnames or adult names until the 1689 ''keizu'' policy forced them to, and instead they simply maintained their childhood names throughout their lives.<ref>Sakamaki, 13.</ref>

Names were still sometimes forced to change, however, when someone of higher rank held a similar name, or used similar characters in their name. For example, the Ryukyuan Crown Prince came to be known as the Prince of Nakagusuku (''Nakagusuku ôji'', 中城王子) beginning in the 18th century or so, much as the heir apparent to the British throne is regularly titled the Prince of Wales. Once this custom was put into place, the character ''Naka'' 中 came to be reserved exclusively for royal use, and so those with names incorporating that character had to change it to either ''Naka'' 仲, as in Nakada 仲田 or Nakasone 仲宗根, or to ''Naka'' 名嘉 as in the surname Nakachi 名嘉地. Another famous example is the case of [[Giwan Choho|Ginowan ''ueekata'' Chôhô]] who had to change his title name to Giwan in [[1875]], when one of the royal princes was named Prince of Ginowan.

Names were still sometimes forced to change, however, when someone of higher rank held a similar name, or used similar characters in their name. For example, the Ryukyuan Crown Prince came to be known as the Prince of Nakagusuku (''Nakagusuku ôji'', 中城王子) beginning in the 18th century or so, much as the heir apparent to the British throne is regularly titled the Prince of Wales. Once this custom was put into place, the character ''Naka'' 中 came to be reserved exclusively for royal use, and so those with names incorporating that character had to change it to either ''Naka'' 仲, as in Nakada 仲田 or Nakasone 仲宗根, or to ''Naka'' 名嘉 as in the surname Nakachi 名嘉地. Another famous example is the case of [[Giwan Choho|Ginowan ''ueekata'' Chôhô]] who had to change his title name to Giwan in [[1875]], when one of the royal princes was named Prince of Ginowan.

As for the given-name portion of the Ryukyuan name, is clear from these examples, it was common among the scholar-aristocracy to maintain the same first character across the generations. Members of the Gushikawa family mentioned above included Nakijin Chôki 今帰仁朝季, Nakijin Chôgi 今帰仁朝義, Nakijin Chôei 今帰仁朝英, and [[Nakijin Chofu|Nakijin Chôfu]] 今帰仁朝敷, all sharing the character 朝 (''chô''). The forefathers and sons of [[Bai Ien]], including Bai Iki, [[Bai Izen]], and Bai Igen all shared the character 唯 (''i'').

 

As for the given-name portion of the Ryukyuan name (also known as ''nanori''), is clear from these examples, it was common among the scholar-aristocracy to maintain the same first character across the generations. This character was known as the ''nanori gashira''. Members of the Gushikawa family mentioned above included Nakijin Chôki 今帰仁朝季, Nakijin Chôgi 今帰仁朝義, Nakijin Chôei 今帰仁朝英, and [[Nakijin Chofu|Nakijin Chôfu]] 今帰仁朝敷, all sharing the character 朝 (''chô''). The forefathers and sons of Bai Ien, including Bai Iki, [[Bai Izen]], and Bai Igen all shared the character 唯 (''i'').

Women's names among the scholar-aristocracy seem to have been repeated among a small group of options. Through eight generations of the Bai family of Naha, every daughter was named either Umitu 思戸, Majirû 真鶴, Magami 真亀, Makadû 真嘉戸, Makamadû 真蒲戸, Môshii 真牛, or Magushii 真呉勢, with only a very few exceptions (and even then, they had very similar names, such as Umitama 思玉 and Kamadû 蒲戸).

Women's names among the scholar-aristocracy seem to have been repeated among a small group of options. Through eight generations of the Bai family of Naha, every daughter was named either Umitu 思戸, Majirû 真鶴, Magami 真亀, Makadû 真嘉戸, Makamadû 真蒲戸, Môshii 真牛, or Magushii 真呉勢, with only a very few exceptions (and even then, they had very similar names, such as Umitama 思玉 and Kamadû 蒲戸). Boys' childhood names functioned similarly; Sakamaki gives a list of 53 of the most common childhood names, which were used until a boy had his coming-of-age ceremony at age 15, and was granted (''nanori'') an adult name. Names employing ''umi'' 思, ''ma'' 真, and ''kani'' or ''gani'' 金 can be identified as aristocratic names. Childhood names also frequently had ''-gwaa'' (小) appended to the end, as a diminutive, as in the examples of Kamigwaa 亀小 and Chirûgwaa 鶴小.

===Chinese-style Names===

===Chinese-style Names===

The scholar-aristocracy of the Ryûkyû Kingdom was divided into four groups of lineages: those of the capital city of [[Shuri]], the port town of [[Naha]], the port town of [[Tomari]], and the Confucian center of [[Kumemura]]. Within each of these towns, there were only a handful of prominent lineages, as defined by Chinese-style surnames. A Chinese-style "given name" would be attached to the Chinese-style surname, different from one's Ryukyuan-style given name. For example, Nakijin Chôei, mentioned above, went by the Chinese-style name Shô Kokki 向邦輝, and should not be called Shô Chôei or Nakijin Kokki, mixing up the two.<ref>This Wiki may be committing that error for members of the [[Bai family]]. I am hoping to find fuller information on these families so as to rectify this problem; however, in the meantime, I lack sufficient information on the various names of these individuals to be able to represent them properly.</ref>

The scholar-aristocracy of the Ryûkyû Kingdom was divided into four groups of lineages: those of the capital city of [[Shuri]], the port town of [[Naha]], the port town of [[Tomari]], and the Confucian center of [[Kumemura]]. Within each of these towns, there were only a handful of prominent lineages, as defined by Chinese-style surnames. A Chinese-style "given name" (''nanori'') would be attached to the Chinese-style surname, different from one's Ryukyuan-style given name. For example, Nakijin Chôei, mentioned above, went by the Chinese-style name Shô Hôki 向邦輝, and should not be called Shô Chôei or Nakijin Kokki, mixing up the two.<ref>This Wiki may be committing that error for members of the [[Bai family]]. I am hoping to find fuller information on these families/individuals so as to rectify this problem; however, in the meantime, I lack sufficient information on the various names of these individuals to be able to represent them properly.</ref>

 

Generally, the Chinese-style name was only used in communications with Chinese offices or individuals, or other similar contexts, and not in interactions with fellow Ryukyuans. However, the people of Kumemura were an exception to this, using their Chinese-style names more regularly.<ref>Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Megumi, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," ''Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô'' 31 (2006), 239.</ref>

'''Royal family''': Members of the royal family bore one of two surnames. The surname Shô 尚 (C: ''Shàng'') was used largely only by those of particularly close relation to the royal house, while the surname Shô 向 (same pronunciation, different [[kanji|character]]) was used by those of collateral houses, outside of the line of succession. Some examples of the former include the kings [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] 尚真, [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] 尚寧, and [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] 尚泰, the Crown Princes [[Prince Sho Ko|Shô Kô]] 尚宏 and [[Sho Ten|Shô Ten]] 尚典, and royal prince [[Sho Shoi|Shô Shôi]] 尚韶威, third son of King Shô Shin. Despite being only a distant relation to the royal house, the prominent official [[Urasoe Choki|Urasoe Chôki]] seems to have also used the royal character 尚 in his Chinese-style name, Shô Genro 尚元魯. Some examples of the latter surname include Nakijin Chôei mentioned above, also known as Shô Kokki 向邦輝; the prominent royal advisor [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]] 向象賢 also known as Haneji Chôshû; and [[Yakabi Choki|Yakabi Chôki]], also known as Shô Zenmo 向全謨.

'''Royal family''': Members of the royal family bore one of two surnames. The surname Shô 尚 (C: ''Shàng'') was used largely only by those of particularly close relation to the royal house, while the surname Shô 向 (same pronunciation, different [[kanji|character]]) was used by those of collateral houses beginning in [[1683]], in order to distinguish them from those closer to the line of succession. Some examples of the former include the kings [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] 尚真, [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] 尚寧, and [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] 尚泰, the Crown Princes [[Prince Sho Ko|Shô Kô]] 尚宏 and [[Sho Ten|Shô Ten]] 尚典, and royal prince [[Sho Shoi|Shô Shôi]] 尚韶威, third son of King Shô Shin. Despite being only a distant relation to the royal house, the prominent official [[Urasoe Choki|Urasoe Chôki]] seems to have also used the royal character 尚 in his Chinese-style name, Shô Genro 尚元魯. Some examples of the latter surname include Nakijin Chôei mentioned above, also known as Shô Hôki 向邦輝; the prominent royal advisor [[Sho Shoken|Shô Shôken]] 向象賢 also known as Haneji Chôshû; and [[Yakabi Choki|Yakabi Chôki]], also known as Shô Zenmo 向全謨.

'''Kumemura''': By the beginning of the 17th century, only six lineages remained prominent within the scholar-aristocracy of Kumemura. However, a great many of the most prominent figures in the kingdom's history over the 17th-19th centuries would come from these six lineages: the [[Sai family|Sai (蔡)]], [[Tei family (鄭)|Tei (鄭)]], [[Tei family (程)|Tei (程)]], [[Rin family|Rin (林)]], [[Kin family|Kin (金)]], and [[Ryo family|Ryô (梁)]] families.

'''Kumemura''': By the beginning of the 17th century, only six lineages remained prominent within the scholar-aristocracy of Kumemura. However, a great many of the most prominent figures in the kingdom's history over the 17th-19th centuries would come from these six lineages: the [[Sai family|Sai (蔡)]], [[Tei family (鄭)|Tei (鄭)]], [[Tei family (程)|Tei (程)]], [[Rin family|Rin (林)]], [[Kin family|Kin (金)]], and [[Ryo family|Ryô (梁)]] families. Other families which were active in Kumemura in the medieval period included the Chin (陳), Kô (紅), Kô (高), Ri (李), Ô (王), Shin (沈), Den (田), Gen (阮), Yô (葉), Sô (宗), Mô (毛), Gi (魏), Ba (馬), Son (孫), Sen (銭), Han (範), Go (呉), Kô (黄), Sô (曾), Yô (楊), and Kaku (郭).<ref>Sakamaki, 15.</ref>

'''Naha''': The scholar-aristocracy of Naha included families such as the Bai 貝, mentioned above.

'''Naha''': The scholar-aristocracy of Naha included families such as the Bai 貝, mentioned above.

==Modern Era==

==Modern Era==

*Shunzo Sakamaki, "On Early Ryukyuan Names," in Sakamaki (ed.), ''Ryukyuan Names'' (Honolulu: East-West Center, 1964), 11-19.

*Shunzo Sakamaki, "On Early Ryukyuan Names," in Sakamaki (ed.), ''Ryukyuan Names'' (Honolulu: East-West Center, 1964), 11-19.

*Higa Shunchô, "On Okinawan Surnames," in Sakamaki (ed.), 31-38.

*Higa Shunchô, "On Okinawan Surnames," in Sakamaki (ed.), 31-38.

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