From: u322543@twncu865.ncu.edu.tw
Subject: MYOUJI
Organization: Computer Center, NCU, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 13:50:47 GMT

Here we discuss the Myouji of Japanese.
This is a brief extraction of the prophecy of the article,

 Niwa Motoji, "The Root of Surnames is the Locality Name (Myouji no Root
 wa Chimei)", History and Journey (Reikishi to Tabi) extra "Seishi, Meimon
 & Meika", part 3, Akita book store, H3.11.10

Key word:
  Na/Myou(*), Nae/Myou, Kabane/Sei or Shou, Azana/Ji, Uji/Shi

  Myouji can be written as Myouji(*) or Myouji, with different Kanji, and
they have different meanings. Though Myou(*) and Myou both pronounced the
same, Myou indicates the clan and Myou(*) indicates the Myouden of the
middle ages of Japan. For example, Ashikagas' Uji is Minamoto, but due to
their occupation of Ashikagasou, their Myouji(*) was the same as the locality
name (Chimei).
  Ancient Japanese always kept their names as a secret and were not willing
others knowing their names. Since one had been already known the other's
name, he could not call the name at will. Therefore they used another way for
designation. It is the Azana. Azana is representing one's age, sex or vocation.
It often contains four Kanji. For instance, Yoshida Hidetake's Azana is
Arakawatarou. Arakawa seems to be his dwelling place or origin. But this kind
of Azana is very similar to modern Japanese whole name, hence Arakawa (Chimei)
has becomed the surname and Tarou the Name (Namae).
  There are also differences between Uji and Kabane. Uji is the common
designation of some ancient tribes, like Soga. Kabane is the official title
appointed, like Muraji. Now Uji and Kabane are combined to form the Myouji
or Myouji(*). Beyond this, the so called "Four Surnames", Minamoto, Taira,
Fujiwara and Tachibana are all Uji, not Kabane. They are confused now.
  There are people whose Myouji is Soga or the same pronounced Kanji. They
are not necessarily related to the ancient Soga because now-used Soga is from
the locality name but ancient Soga is a tribe's Uji. It is possible that the
descendants of Soga changed their Myouji after changing their lodgings.
  The source of Myouji (Chimei) is the Kanji of the vocabulary of Wago (ancient
Japanese) pronounced by Kunyomi. It might change to Onyomi. The former Prime
Minister Kaifu Toshiki's surname is originally pronounced as Ama, but due to
its long lasting or difficult to pronounce, it is changed to Onyomi anyway.

*I have asked a question of why Ukita can be written in different Kanji. And
 below is the answer.

  Ukitas are spreading around Japan. Its meaning is the rice field with
abundant water (floating-rice field). Ukita Naoie served under Toyotomi
Hideyoshi and suddenly appeared on the Senkoku history stage. His son,
Hideie, was Hideyoshi's adopted son and became the great support of the
Toyotomi family. People with the same surname changed their Kanji to
Ukita (house-happiness-rice field) or Ukita (house-happiness-much) in
order to avoid the using of same Kanji. Thus those who called Ukita but
have different Kanji are from the same root.

*The useful information below is afford by Mr. I. Ichikawa
 (ichikawa@cs.uiuc.edu)

>The other family name, UKITA is different, "TA" is used "ooi/ta"(many,much).
>Originally UKITA's "KITA" part is spelled "kita/hoku"(north) I remember...
>But they changed to use "yorokobu/ki"(happiness,joy) "ooi/ta"(many,much),
>that is, `many of happiness.'  Yes, its sounds good and it seems a delightful
>name.
>We, Japanese use to think the name has the power in itself strongly.
>So we were using a kanji which has good meaning for own name.
>If there were good meanings, there migt be bad meanings.  So we were using
>a KANJI which has bad meaning for enemy's name or for the purpose of the
>course.
>This is a cultural reason.  From the linguistic view, you know, Japanese has
>less vowels and consonants.  So there are a lot of same sound KANJI (this is
>the point of the phonetic distinction between Japanese and Chinese).
>So we can change the KANJI of a name to the suitable one. But it causes
>some confusion.
>So, after the beginning of the 17th century, family name has been almost
>fixed.   However, in Japan, one's family line is less important than
>in China and Korea.   If there were certain reasones, it could be easy
>to change one's family name to another.  The Chineses and Koreans never
>imagine this because they think the family line is the most important.

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