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names and magic II
Regarding yesterday's post on the power of naming, longtime associate Brian Sherman writes in to say:
"I see this in the martial arts as well. ... Hatsumi Sensei [the current head of the Bujinkan Dojo] has announced the change of his Bugyo [martial name]. Originally it was Byakuryu, which means "white dragon." Most recently, he has been referred to as Tetsuzan, which means "iron mountain." The new name that he has taken is Hisamune. He explained that it is made up of the characters from Takamatsu's names and the character of So from soke. His reasons for the change is that Tetsuzan represents an image of strength - which is fine for a younger man, but as Sensei gets along in years (he's now in his 60's) he feels that a softer image and one that relates to nature and naturalness is much more appropriate at this time. I can't help but note that one of the ideas from our art is to act or move appropriately to deal with an opponent's attack."
And Brian also pointed me to this page, where another martial artist discusses his name selection.
This may be related to kotodama, the esoteric Japanese belief in the mystical power of words.
"[D]epending on one's inclination, one can see kotodama as representing a) a unique correspondence between (Japanese) words and that which they signify, b) a unique correspondence between the grammatical structure of (the Japanese) language and the structure of the world, c) the general blessing of the Gods which has been granted to (the Japanese) people, d) the notion that (Japanese or other) words are "alive" and have distinct souls, e) the quality of intentional ritual speech and action necessary to approach the divine, f) the use of intentional ritual speech to produce effects in the mundane world."
—Fred Little, "Mantrayana and Koto(dama/tama): a suggestive mapping"
I learned about kotodama in a Wire profile on the Boredoms, who allege (in the same profile) that they're changing their name to the "V∞rdoms":
"All of my group names, including the Boredoms, have a meaning ... When we still spelt it with a B— now it's V —it linked to 'boa,' the huge snake you find in South America. There was also the idea of 'bore' and boring, but primarily I think I wanted to access the power of the serpent and the power of the earth."
—Yamataka Eye
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Thursday, April 10, 2003
3:12 PM
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