"True names" in Fantasy

[Xeoz]

Ngl, I've had this in my mind for 5 years. Where did this concept come from? Let's say, if a person learnt the spirit/god's true name, they would become slaves or something else, or they kill them yada yada. It's been bothering me. I swear, I've seen it in anime or some novel years ago. Anyone got an idea? Either I stumble on some chinese manhua or the vietnamese novel years ago... I forgot

 

[unlaumy]

It's part of mythologies/mysticism that has been going on for thousands of years. In Ancient Egyptian mythology, Isis forces to Ra to reveal his secret name if he wishes to be saved. Western esotericism also does it for a demon summoning. The demon's True Name is important if you want it to listen to your order(s) or have it be banished if it's too uncontrollable and doing weird things too much in the real world.

It's also a mechanism in some TTRPG games, like DND.

 

[Xeoz]

It's part of mythologies/mysticism that has been going on for thousands of years. In Ancient Egyptian mythology, Isis forces to Ra to reveal his secret name if he wishes to be saved. Western esotericism also does it for a demon summoning. The demon's True Name is important if you want it to listen to your order(s) or have it be banished if it's too uncontrollable and doing weird things too much in the real world.

It's also a mechanism in some TTRPG games, like DND.

AAHHHH Bro, I remember now. Thanks holy. It was from demons. I researched witchcraft before, ok ok. It's been bothering me for weeks. I even chatgpt'd it. Well, that's one thought out of the way, thanks!

 

[CharlesEBrown]

For flavor, this is the logic behind the demons coming up with titles "I am Mugwumpus (not his real name) The Demon of Frustration (a title he made up a - and strives to live up to). Here to Almost Grant your Heart's Desire. Name it now or lose your wish forever."

 

[SouthernMaiden]

In Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea books the entire magic system is based on learning the true names of things. It's extremely scholarly and extremely dangerous. Also worth noting that she had a wizard school years before Harry Potter.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Because knowing something's true nature gives you some power/ leverage over said something.

Think of it like legal binding obligations/ contracts, you are supposed to have a person's true/ real name in order to go into a agreement between the two. If not, the agreement can be annulled due to fraud etc.

 

[Bald-san]

Ngl, I've had this in my mind for 5 years. Where did this concept come from? Let's say, if a person learnt the spirit/god's true name, they would become slaves or something else, or they kill them yada yada. It's been bothering me. I swear, I've seen it in anime or some novel years ago. Anyone got an idea? Either I stumble on some chinese manhua or the vietnamese novel years ago... I forgot

I remember the explanation of the LOTM Author, apparently it cane from lovecraftian concepts where the 'name' of an existence is beyond someone's comprehension, it just got twisted, perhaps

 

[Macha]

My true name is Maia Chaniago. Enslave me at your own risk.

 

[Zagaroth]

My true name is Maia Chaniago. Enslave me at your own risk.

That's a familiar line. :D

“My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk."

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I remember the explanation of the LOTM Author, apparently it cane from lovecraftian concepts where the 'name' of an existence is beyond someone's comprehension, it just got twisted, perhaps

It is older than that. The Name of God is supposed to have the power to destroy, in kaballist Judaism. For that reason, the deity is known just as "god" or a string of letters derived in the Roman alphabet as JHVH and generally pronounced "jehova" but never actually spoken as such. Odds are the concept predates that, but it is the earliest example I've found.

 

[MFontana]

Ngl, I've had this in my mind for 5 years. Where did this concept come from? Let's say, if a person learnt the spirit/god's true name, they would become slaves or something else, or they kill them yada yada. It's been bothering me. I swear, I've seen it in anime or some novel years ago. Anyone got an idea? Either I stumble on some chinese manhua or the vietnamese novel years ago... I forgot

The Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin is a great source of reference to the concept as it appears in Fantasy/Adventure fiction.

 

[BearlyAlive]

Giving something a name takes away a bit of the "power" it could have over you, as it is clearly defined and thus not "able" to influence imagination and/or fear. So knowing the true nature of something would mean not only not having to fear the "power" something could have over you, but having power over it instead. A bit like the whole Dao stuff in far east stuff.

That's my take on the whole true name debate, at least. Knowledge = power, thus "true" knowledge = "true" power.