[from momoiro-usagi via email]
This mail is about [Question on meaning "Saitou"].
I worry about the ability to explain to you well.
>Many friends study meaning of family name "Saitou" Definition is
"divine wisteria". True?
It of the meaning of kanji is a correct answer.
However, a family name of Japan may have the historical origin.
A Japanese kanji has the pronunciation from which some kinds are
different in one character.
"wisteria" has the pronunciation of "tou" and "fuji".
Although you will probably know, "tou" of "Saitou" and "Fuji" of
"Fujita" are the same characters(=wisteria).
First of all, please bear it in mind.
There are many family names which "tou" attaches in Japan.
Saitou, Satou, Katou, Itou, etc.
(A character called this "tou" is changed into "dou" depending on the
case.
"dou" of "Kondou" is also "wisteria". There are other family names,
such as Andou, Shindou, and Kudou.)
The family name of these "tou" is considered to be the posterity of
Fujiwara of the aristocrat of
the Heian period (From A.D. 794 to A.D. 1192) . "Fuji" of "Fujiwara" =
"wisteria".
The Fujiwara clan had huge power in the Imperial Court. And they got
various court ranks.
There was a status called "Saiou".
This is the duty which serves the goddess of the Ise Shrine as the
Emperor's representative.
The Emperor family's unmarried woman is chosen and she becomes "Saiou".
The castle in which "Saiou" lives was called "Saiguu".
There, it was also the public office for "Saiou".
The director general of "Saiguu" was called "Saiguu no kashira".
The origin of the family name of "Saitou" is "Fujiwara" which acquired
the status of "saiguu no kasira".
"Sai" of "Saiguu no kashira" + "Fuji(=tou)" of "Fujiwara".
However, since Saitou Hajime changed the family name, it is not
applied to this.
"Yamaguchi" which is the true family name of Saitou means it as the
entrance of a mountain.
Yama = Mountain + guchi(=kuchi) = Although it is originally the
meaning of a "mouth", it is an "entrance" in this case.
Probably, his ancestor would be related to the land.
[secretarytocapt3 read somewhere that his mother was a
farmer...perhaps totally unrelated]
It was easy to change a family name a long time ago.
Now, the family name of "tou" is hardly related to "Fujiwara".
Supplement:
Why Yamaguchi Hajime chose Saitou as the assumed name does not remain
in record.
In a report, the expert of the sword of a family name called Saitou is
in sword style "Mugai-ryuu" which he studied,
and it is said that it became a basis.
[secretarytocapt3 reminder...babelfish translates mugai-ryu as No
outer form or "Outside style nothing" as Serizawa Kamo used to
mention the iaido of mugai-ryu is active today (they have websites)]
Although remembered in the talk of a family name, it sometimes sees
analyzing the kanji of the name of characters at the site of RK.
In fact, if it is Japanese RK fan, there is a certain fact which all
the members almost know.
Most family names of the characters who appear in RK originate in the
name of a place of Niigata Prefecture which is the hometown of Watsuki
Nobuhiro.
Kamiya, Nagaoka, Sanjyou, Tsubame, Tsukioka, Tsunan, Isurugi,
Makimachi, Mishima, Kashiwazaki, Kujiranami, etc.
These are a city in Niigata Prefecture, and the name of an area.
"Yuukyuuzan" is the Yuukyuu mountain.
"Sadojima" is the Sado island.
"Yahiko" is the Yahiko shrine.
"myoujin" which is the family name of Yahiko is the title of God of
Shintoism.
http://www2.pref.niigata.jp/kankou/en_sight.nsf/31114b4c20e7417c49256a1c0020319e/cc5a9b75376ea64149256a2c002e18bc?OpenDocument
"Aoshi" is the Aoshi shrine.
Neighboring residents call this area "Aoshi no mori". (Woods of Aoshi.)
Aoshi no mori > Aoshi shi no mori > Aoshi shino mori > Aoshi shinomori
> Shinomori Aoshi........hehehe.
http://www2.pref.niigata.jp/kankou/en_sight.nsf/31114b4c20e7417c49256a1c0020319e/05828c27e840b15949256a2c002e42b6?OpenDocument
The reply of yesterday's mail is written independently later.
Good-bye .
P.S.
Shinsengumi Themed Merchandising, Promo, wishlist and WHAT IF? >
Forget the Beer, try the wine!
Although the wine of a site which Warg3791 looked at is a name of
"Yukari no hito"(Those who are related to Hakodate),
there is wine of a more fearful name in Hakodate.
With red wine, the name is "Hijikata Toshizou no chi"(Blood of
Hijikata Toshizou).
Although I have it, I am fearful and am not drinking.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/harinotubuyaki/kyoya-rui/image/hatago/hakodate2.html
(There is nothing at my site. )
--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, Serizawa Kamo wrote:
> Fuji: Wisteria(?). "Tou" is the "Chinese" way
> (actually, a Japanese way to pronouncing the Chinese
> pronunciation) for "Fuji", which is a 100% Japanese
> way of reading it.
> Ta: Farm (actually, the original meaning is rice
> plantation)
>
> Go: five
> Rou: man
>
>
> Serizawa Kamo