Monday, May 29, 2023

13 - Taboo Name

【忌み名、imi-na】

Originally called "imina (諱)".

After death, people were given posthumous names called "okurina (諡, lit. bestowed name)", and it was frowned upon to call them by their living names, so they came to be called "taboo (忌み) names (名)".

Later, however, the real names of noblemen came to be called taboo names.


In the first place, a nobleman's real name was not something that could be easily invoked. It is thought that their real names gradually came to be called "taboo names" as they were to be avoided.


However, it is said that in some regions, since the name of the target was required when casting a spell, imina were invented to prevent this, and they were given as the name of the soul in contrast to the name used in everyday life.

In addition, women, in particular, were given different names from their childhood names after becoming betrothed, and so they came to be called "iinadzuke (lit. spoken name, used in the way as we use fiancee, written as 言い名付け or 許婚)" after the betrothal.


Such "taboo names" are also found in foreign traditions, such as the Celtic tribes, who forbade the name of the soul to be known by others.

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