Heian Persona History

[Kiyowara]

I'm not sure if this belongs here..

I decided to make a unique history for my Heian lady persona. Still haven't figured out a good name...Soooo I decided that since my given name would probably never be used except in formal situations that I would use a moniker. To do this I would need to know about hierarchy positions/jobs and make a name from a relative's position. Least I think that's how it's done.

[Kiyowara]

Oh! forgot to put that knowing the job positions would also give me a start for my persona's background and what she'd be doing usually.

Are the ranking and jobs directly linked to the SCA's? If they are and I can't use them(?) then I have no clue what to make the name from.


Edited* (pardon my ignorance I have no idea how to go about this kind of thing)
I was thinking that I could be related to Minamoto no Yorimitsu or Minamoto no Yorinobu. Would her family name be Minamoto or some form of Genji?

And does anyone know the correct way to say the dates? Like rewording a birthday, (the blank day of blank) like how it's written in books and such documents.

[Ki no Kotori]

Yay, another Heian Persona! Welcome to the fold!

While Genji and Minamoto are the same clan, IIRC, the name Minamoto was the one used. Similar to the way Taira was used for the Heike.

To register in the SCA College of Heralds, you would need to work out a "real" name. As for a nickname, it does not necessarily have to be worked out from a male relative's position. It can be a physical attribute, or from the house/street your persona lives, or some trait/quirk your persona might have.

I am called Kawami no Ue (the Lady who Watches the River), which Saionji-dono gave me because my then-local group was called Riverwatch and I had that in my sig. (The group later dissolved, but I kept the nickname.)

As for titles and modes of address, Hiraizumi-dono (Effingham) has some ideas on his Japanese Miscellany. Go to the "Modes of Address" button on the left and that should get you to the article in question.

You can find information about the Japanese Lunar calender here and here as well as a list of nengo (era designations) here.

Usually the first reference I recommend to anyone taking a Heian persona is The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan by Ivan Morris. It is by far the most accessible summary of Heian court life. The bibliography is dated (Morris died in 1976), but a place to start.

Also check out The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon (this links to the Morris translation. There is a newer translation out, but I'm still reading it. Morris' translation is very good, though.)

My primary area of interest is Nikki bungaku (Diary literature) so I can happily recommend some. But start out with the World of the Shining Prince and the Pillow Book.

(Also, I'm running late! )

Edit: Small Grey Bear...do you know Lady Amina (her IRL first name is Trudy). She was living there for awhile--I'm not sure if she still is in that area.

[Kiyowara]

I'm not familiar with many people since I rarely get to go to close by events. I usually got to Candlelight Camp and Barbearian Brawl....though I have been to Smythkepe twice. My first event ever was Cracked Anvil VIII. Bill and Andrea Hicks are responsible for introducing me and my Mom to the wonderful world of the SCA, I instantly wanted to be Japanese! Art is Beauty, and Beauty is Art.

I have met Sugawara no Naeme. Though I had forgotten her name at the event and just knew her as 'That awesome Heian Lady" (I refer to anyone with a Heian persona as Heian-sama if I don't know/can't remember their name) until I pieced together that it was one and the same woman! LOL

LOL maybe I could make my name Minamoto no Naninani?! lol I'm joking. But with that knowledge I wonder what I could name her after...I was thinking of making my persona quirky...especially since she isn't married and she's in her 20's (as I am) so something must be wrong...maybe she can't write a poem to save her life? Or refuses any male suitors vehemently?
A tom-boy with a rough streak maybe?

I was also pondering making her an illegitimate child from a Minamoto noble. You know...one night of poetry is all that does it it seems...Which brings to question how she would be treated and where she would live? Oh, so many questions and my mind is racing everywhere.

[Noriko]

Ah, don't worry but it's nice to see you so eager to learn. In regards to persona, there can be a disconnect between persona and self. After all, we have many, many members over 30 in the SCA and I'm pretty sure in the real middle ages, they'd be dead[1]. You could either make up an imaginary husband (i.e. my European-persona'd friend has an imaginary dead husband; she's a widow at the tender age of 25!) or ignore it. I can count on one hand the time persona details other than name and time/place came up in conversation[2]. However, it is a fun exercise.
On the other hand, your persona is *you* so pick a name you like and that you want to be called.
Speaking of which, look up the short story, "The Lady Who Loved Vermin"[3]- this character is much my persona model, though I rarely, ever go full Heian. I mostly wear "peasant garb" because I don't have a car and I want to travel light.
That, and I can't stand make-up, wigs etc. On the other hand, it is a fairy tale of sorts- I don't know if there were actual ladies like that.
As for where you'd live... Most women lived with their families, even when married, and the husband would come to call.
Double suggesting "World of the Shining Prince"- it will answer all your questions.


[1]They should sell this on a t-shirt- "If it was really the middle ages, I'd be dead by now"
[2]Though I'll admit, I do have all the details.
[3]https://eee.uci.edu/clients/sbklein/gender/articles/LadyAdmiredVermin.htm

[Kiyowara]

LOL hilarious! *wears the t-shirt*
Maybe back then they'd wear tunics that said "If It twas thy future, thee would be alive in thyn later years!"

I know...it's lame. XP

[Sugawara no Naeme]

May 27, 2011 9:18:51 GMT -5 Ki no Kotori said:

Edit: Small Grey Bear...do you know Lady Amina (her IRL first name is Trudy). She was living there for awhile--I'm not sure if she still is in that area.

Yes! She is a wonderful person, and her persona play is absolutely inspiring!