Name Construction in Medi val Japan examines Japanese names from earliest records to the close of the medieval period in 1600. Like ancient Greek or Latin names or Arabic names, ancient and medieval Japanese names express the social role of the individual in Japanese society. The main text and accompanying notes provide a guide to the origin and social role of formal names, common use names, kinship names, and names in religion. Name giving is an social promotion are also discussed.

This book is based on Japanese language onomastic references, medieval literature, and iconographic data. The role of kanji in Japanese names is emphasized, and name elements are organized thematically to allow historical reenactors to create original appropriate Japanese names. This book covers premodern name elements, name structure, and naming practices along with with their political and social context. It includes a large indexed compendium of premodern Japanese names with their meanings and appropriate ideograms.