Good Characters, Inc. Blog

We know what the name of the new prince of Japan means, but where did it come from? Hisahito means “everlasting, calm, and virtuous,” but how did Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko arrive at that name? We know they consulted experts in classic Chinese and Japanese literature. Does any of that literature suggest a name such as Hisahito?
 
Some think the first character is inspired by a line from the writings of the famous Chinese poet Tao Yuanming. (The final character, “hito,” is customarily included in the name of a male of the royal family.) The line is “you ran jian nan shan,” and it means “I gaze at the distant South Mountain.” The character “you” is pronounced hisa in Japanese. 
 
The new prince’s father has said that the name was chosen in hopes that Hisahito would have a long life. The South Mountain of Tao Yuanming’s poem is a symbol of long life in the Chinese culture. The word that describes the mountain as distant is “you,” the one pronounced hisa. It can also mean “everlasting.”
 
So the name has good meaning, expresses the wishes of the child’s parents, is new and unique, is rooted in ancient writings, and has poetic imagery. No wonder naming experts had to be consulted!

Links:

• The Name of Japanese Prince Hisahito Is Inspired by a Chinese Poem (Chinese)
  日本小皇子名悠仁, 取自中國詩人陶淵明詩句
• The Elaborate Process of Naming for Japanese Royal Family Includes Researching Chinese Classics (Chinese)
  日本皇室添丁讲究多： 起名参照中国古书籍
• Imperial Household of Japan
• Tao Yuanming