The Genealogy of Stage Names from the Naming of Maiwarawa to Kōwakamaru

Abstract

In medieval times a name changed from something impersonal to be simply given to something personal to show one's own identity. This remarkable shift in the social meaning of names gave birth to stage names in the entertainment world. The origin of stage names can be traced to the naming of dancing children called “maiwarawa,” but little is known about what value the names of entertainers socially assumed before the establishment of the custom. This article will outline a history of stage-naming and examine the influence of this “cultural pattern” on art and literature.