Biratori, Hidaka region, Hokkaidō

紫雲古津

しうんこつ Shiunkotsu

Two readings that differ in one segment and are supported by different kinds of evidence.

Ainu spellings: Sum-un-kot, Su-un-kot

Analyses

シュムンコツ

proposed

the valley to the west

Proponent: zenibako_trek（小樽銭函地名歴史研究会） (zenibako_trek (Otaru Zenibako Place-Name and History Society))

The author prefers this reading because of where the place lies.

シュウンコツ

proposed

the valley where the pot is

Proponent: zenibako_trek（小樽銭函地名歴史研究会） (zenibako_trek (Otaru Zenibako Place-Name and History Society))

Ainu from this village took the family name Nabesawa, 'pot valley', when surnames were assigned in the Meiji period.

proposed

The village of scum

Proponent: John Batchelor

So called on account of scum often seen in a bend of the river here. The printed gloss is garbled in the scan; the comment gives the sense.