NAMES OF THE JAPANESE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3566, 29 August 1905, Page 4

NAMES OF THE JAPANESE.

They Vary at Different Period# of Their Lives—The Baptismal C« re mo ay. The naming of a Japanese baby is not idnpiv the bestowal of a name upon it, soon aftee its birth, by i wlrch it shall be known during its I: b time. Tim name of a Japanese is elm n;;ed at various periods of bis lif--, say.*, the; Ledger Monthly. When a Japanese child is a month old he is given bis best name, with national religions ceremonials. The eld id is taken in state to the family temple. Servants carry the entire infantile wardrobe, the extent of which indicates the degree of wealth and the soctal position of the father. At the end of U- p. mission a servant walks, carrying a box which cont:’.i,!i:i money tn give the officiating*, j.i last, and a s’ : n ’ ron w kicb lie three nr. ‘-n. On entering 1 the o 1 ■ :ar hand* ■ the paper eon : name* to the priest, wb . e hem on throe s , s ), m.xes and slml.es at ea..duin, >. p. .mouncing in a loud voice a sacramental invocation to the god to whom the temple is dedicated. He then passes them in the air, and the first one i hat touches (he holy 11 - or is selected as the choir ■ presiding divinity. This name Is writ leu on a piece of pa per I'.y tm priest, and is given to th: chin's rather as a talisman, During the ceremony sacred songs, with instrumental accompaniments, tire, chanted. ''visits to relatives and friends of the parents follow the ebris ening, in celebration of which festivities of various kinds are indulged in and presents given to the child.

The Japanese child wears loose garments until he is three years of age. At (hat time they are discarded and his clothes arc bound around his waist with a girdle. The girdling ci. it'monies are public and are accompanied by very elaborate reil;!■ i:111s rites. On that occasion he i ■; ;■ ives a new manic. His education lugins at this period and is consider,.,! finished at .1 r>, at which time he attains his majority. He assumes llm rcsponsihilil ies of a man and tahrs Ids place in society with a new mi me.

Kn terms - upon the duties of a public ft i nctio" a vy. la ' -kes another name, which is changed upon every advancement in rank or dignity in hi -; i dilcial position. His name is changed upon the slightest pretext. If ids superior officer happens to have the same name, The subaltern’s must be chanced, for it detracts from the dignity of a chief for a subordinate to possess the same name. He

receives a new name upon his marriage. His last, and only permanent name, is the one given him after his death, which is inscribed upon his tomb.