Names of Commoner Women

As used here, the term “commoners” (heimin 庶民) serves as a counterpoint to the court nobility; it encompasses a broad spectrum of people ranging from lower-ranking government officials and members of the warrior class all the way down to farmers. As noted previously, while a great number of historical documents from this era have survived to the present day—befitting, as it were, a time of civil strife—military-related records predominate overwhelmingly. Such documents include reports of meritorious service, letters of commendation, attendance rosters, mobilization orders, administrative directives, official mandates, battle reports, and letters of confirmation. Consequently, those types of documents that would be most useful for identifying women’s names—such as deeds of conveyance, donation charters, and land sale certificates—are relatively scarce.

If one currently searches for and examines old documents bearing era names from the Northern and Southern Courts period, one can identify a considerable number of female names—albeit a relatively small quantity overall. When these names are presented in accordance with the classification system used for female names of the Kamakura period, they appear as follows.

ここでいう「庶民」とは、宮廷貴族に対する言葉であって、下級の官人層、武家から農民にいたるまでの人びとを包括している。前にも触れたとおり、この時代の古文書は多く伝存しているが、さすがに乱世だけあって、軍忠状、感状、着到状、軍勢催促状、施行状、下知状、注進状、安堵状等々、軍事関係の文書が圧倒的に多く、女性名を知るうえで好都合な譲状、寄進状、田地売券の類は、割合に少ないのである。

いま南北朝時代の年号を帯びた古文書について捜し求めると、少ないながら相当な数の女性名を知ることができる。これらを鎌倉時代の女性名の分類に準じてかかげてみると、左のようである。

Female names of the uji-no-nyo or uji-no-ko type date back to the late Heian period; however, their prevalence increased during this era compared to the subsequent Kamakura period. Generally, these names are read as … Uji-no-nyo, though instances where they are read as … Uji-no-me can also be observed. When signing documents such as bills of sale, deeds of donation, or deeds of conveyance—even if they were literate—women who lacked a formal personal name (azana) often inscribed themselves as … uji-no-nyo or uji-no-ko, thereby utilizing these designations as a substitute for a proper name. While such names are remarkably devoid of individuality, they serve as an indication that the social sphere in which these women existed was circumscribed, and that their ties to their natal families remained exceptionally strong.

Translator’s note: -Me is the older reading for the “woman” kanji 女. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the pronunciation changed to -nyo, although the occasional -me pronunciation persisted.

氏女・氏子型の女性名は、平安時代後期いらいのものであるが、この時代には鎌倉時代より増加している。一般にこれは、「…… うぢのによ」と訓むが、「…… うぢのめ」と訓む例も見受けられる。売券、寄進状、譲状などに記名する際、字はあっても、正式の謡をもたぬ女性は、しばしば「……氏女」、「氏子」と書き、これを謹の代用としたのであった。これはすこぶる没個性的な名であるが、その女性の存在する社会が狭溢であったこと、実家との連繋が強靱であったことを指証している。

The prevalence of names belonging to this type was on the decline. Concurrently, a trend was observable wherein the suffix -junyo—as seen in names such as Aijunyo 愛寿女, Enjunyo 延寿女, and Fukujunyo 福寿女—was being dropped, giving rise to simpler female names like Ai 愛, En 延, and Fuku 福.

この型の名は、減少している。とともに、「愛寿女」、「延寿女」、「福寿女」等々の「寿女」が脱落し、あい、えん、ふくといった女性名が現
われる傾向がみられる。

The use of Buddhist-style female names has declined significantly. However, the “Ō-style” (King-style 王型) and “Yasa-style” 夜叉型 names—both derived from the Myōō (Wisdom King) category within Buddhism—have seen a dramatic surge in popularity. Although the specific name “Kesanyo 袈裟女” [Buddhist robe + woman] is rarely encountered, when viewed in light of the fact that “kesa-style” female names appear with great frequency in later periods, it is presumed that this style was merely lying dormant during this era, resulting in a scarcity of recorded examples.

仏教型の女性名は、いちじるしく減少している。ただ仏教の明王型から出た「王型」、「夜叉型」は激増している。「袈裟女」はほとんどみられないが、のちに「袈裟型」の女性名が頻出する点から考慮するならば、この時代には「袈裟型」は潜行しており、用例が少なかったものとみなされる。

Regarding names of the “Ō 王” type, suffixes such as -nyo (woman) or -maru are frequently omitted; consequently, the fact that they are female names is determined based on the surrounding context.

王型に関しては、接尾語の女ゃ丸が省略される場合が多く、前後の関係から女性名であることが判定されるのである。

Yasa-type names appear to have catered to the tastes of the era; consequently, names belonging to this category—for both men and women—are by no means uncommon.

夜叉型の名は、時代人の趣向に投じたとみえ、これに属する名は、男女ともに少なくない。