mcook7823's page

Since it's been asked for a few times, I'll clarify the language roots and inspiration of the names. I can't, however, give you the characters/kanji/hanja for each right now, either because I've lost my notes, can't remember the tone, or because it might potentially spoil story elements. Probably best for us to return to that topic after all four books are out...

Chinese
Heh Shan-Bao
"Granny" Hu Ban-niang
Ha Hai-er
Yong Wu-Xiu
Zheng Peng
Hua De-Ge
Luo Xi Yang
Huo Tian-Zhe

Korean
Kum Soon-chong
Kum Meng-sung
You So-Jin
Choe Chung-hu
Kim Gu-won
Yun Mong-Un: I actually don't remember for certain if Mong-un's name is Korean, but from the romanization, it's most likely Korean than not. She could also be a case of surname from one language, first name from another. (See Old Matsuki below.)

Japanese
Oono Kazuma: Yes, Kazuma is meant to be the given name here.
Igawa Jubei

Special Cases
"Old" Matsuki Shou: Shou can actually be Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. Some folks do have surnames from one origin and first name from another language, after all...
Ouh Ba-Ming: Ouh is a fictitious last name that can be derived from a Chinese, Japanese, or Korean inspiration. Ba-Ming is Chinese inspired.
Sanmi Nadoya: Sanmi is Chinese inspired, literally meaning "three rice". Nodoya is completely fictitious on account of the family being from Tianjing. Yuli is Chinese-based, iirc...
Kawaka Myna: Fictitious. Based on naming scheme suggestions for tengu.
Elizeth Candora: Fictiotious. English/Romantic language inspired.
Damihansig Mababangloob: Partially fictitious. Doctor Dami's last name is Filipino, while his first name is a combination of two other Filipino first names.
Rajul Samudra: Hindu and Vedic.
Luda Bama: Fictitious.
Zataku: Ficticious, based on ysoki naming scheme
Mountain Summit Grass: Fictitious, based on leshy naming scheme.

** spoiler omitted **...

if I can necro this thread because I found reference to it on reddit, I have a question. Do you have any general suggested references for pronunciation guides, or maybe one that is applicable to the host of characters in Willowshore? I find that the Tian Xia setting guide has some helpers, but many of them are in conflict when it comes to this module because you don't know where the characters are from. Any suggestions? Outside of this character list, if there are some hard generalized rules that cover a lot of cases, that would be very helpful. For example, Ceiba-Duyue exchange; send help.