2013 Volume 45 Issue 1 Pages 9-38
I examined six names documented for the Japanese Crane Grus japonensis during the Edo era. Historical material of the Edo era includes names for a wide variety of Cranes; however, the classification system used in the Edo era differs from that used in the West and present-day Japan, and a variety of names were used for animals. Therefore, the names mentioned and the corresponding species differ depending upon the period and researcher. Discrepancies were detected within historical material. Furthermore, by studying differences in definitions among different regions it was evident that some local names do not match common names. In most cases “鶴 Tsuru” represents the Japanese Crane, but there are some cases in which it represents the White-naped Crane G. vipio or the Siberian White Crane G. leucogeranus. At present, “丹鳥Tancho” represents the Japanese Crane but there is a variety of interpretations in historical material, and there is no clear species-specific reference. In most cases, “白鶴 Sirozuru” refers to the Siberian White Crane, but may represent the Japanese Crane in some regions. “琉球鶴 Ryukyu-zuru” is not the specific name of one species, but a generic term for Cranes that was introduced from abroad via the Ryukyus. There are instances of “朝鮮鶴 Chosen-zuru” representing the Japanese Crane, but it is rather a general term for the Crane and was derived from Korea. When attempting to match names from the Edo era and modern classification, regional differences and discrepancies identified in historical material should be noted.
