Renowned

Japanese: 高名 - こうみょう

〘Noun〙 ("myo" is the Go-on pronunciation of "name")① A noble name. ※Man'yoshu (late 8th century) 6/1009, left note "The noble name of the _imperial family was bestowed _upon the Tachibana family of _{the foreign} family, and it has already _died out." ② (adjective-verb) Something that is highly renowned. Something that is famous. Also, the state or name of something. Koumei. ※Makura (late 10th century) 103 "This is Enutaki with such a name." ※Wakakishu (around 1377), Waenzo no Shu rhymes "Coming from the south _to China, _he has long been known for his _great fame, _and has never been known _before ." ③ (━suru) To perform _a feat. To achieve military feat. Also, the result of that feat. Fame. ※Yasunori Treasure Collection (around 1179) Vol. 1 “Famous for crossing the Katsura River” ※Ukiyo-zoshi, Buke Giri Monogatari ( 1688 ) Vol. 4 “Famous for crossing the Katsura River in the past, the granddaughter of some governor who was famous for her hidden presence at the Battle of Sekigahara” [Etymology] (1) The original meaning of the Chinese word is high fame, that is, a public evaluation of something as being excellent or superior. Starting with the example “The Pillow Book,” the majority of examples up until the end of the Heian period had this meaning.
(2) From the early Kamakura period, especially in war tales, the meaning and usage of the term ③ was derived, and thereafter, examples of this meaning came to dominate.
(3) Originally, there were two ways to read the pronunciation of the character "koumyo" (high fame), Kaumyo and Kaumei. However, there was also "koumei" (achievement), and by the end of the Muromachi period, when the distinction between kou and kau had become unclear, cases of confusion arose due to their semantic similarity. In the Edo period, the awareness of the distinction between myo and mei had faded, and the confusion had progressed. After the Meiji period, "koumyo" (achievement), which means merit, came to be written exclusively as "achievement." → Origin of the word "koumyo" (achievement)

Koumei cow… [famous]

〘Noun〙 ("mei" is the idiomatic pronunciation of "name")① (adjective) = koumyou (famous)② ※Heike (early 13th century) 6 "The Kiso River in Shinano was renowned, and was a famous name at the time (Takarahon , ruby)" ※Ninjyohon, Shunshoku Umeji Homimi (1832-33), later "The famous name is inscribed on calligraphy and paintings" [Han Feizi - Ju-gu]② A word used to respectfully address someone's name. Your name. ※Hakukihon, Tokaidochu Hizakurige (1802-09), 5 "'My name is Jippensha Ikku. ' 'Ha ha, I have received your famous name. Are you Jippensha sensei?'" [Etymology] → Etymology of "koumyou (famous)"

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙 (「みょう」は「名」の呉音)① 高貴な名前。※万葉（８Ｃ後）六・一〇〇九・左注「辞_二皇族之高名_一賜_二外家之橘姓_一已訖」② (形動) 名声が高いこと。有名なこと。また、そのさまや、その名。こうめい。※枕（１０Ｃ終）一〇三「これやこのかう名のゑぬたき」※若木集（1377頃）和遠蔵主寄韻「南来万里到_二中国_一、久聞_二高名_一未_二相識_一」③ (━する) てがらをたてること。武功をたてること。また、そのてがら。功名。※康頼宝物集（1179頃）上「桂川渡りに高名する」※浮世草子・武家義理物語（1688）四「過にし関ヶ原陣に高名(カウミャウ)其隠れなき何の守とかやの孫娘」[語誌](1)漢語の原義は、高い名声、すなわち、立派だ、あるいは優れているという世間的評価の意であり、挙例の「枕草子」をはじめとして、平安末期までは、その意味の用例がほとんどである。
(2)鎌倉初期から、特に軍記物語において、③の意味用法が派生し、以後、この意味の用例が圧倒的に多くなる。
(3)もと、「高名」の字音についてはカウミョウ、カウメイの二通りの読み方があったが、別にコウメイと読まれた「功名」があって、コウ、カウの区別が乱れた室町末期に至ると、意味的近似から混同する例が現われ、江戸時代には、ミョウ、メイの弁別意識も薄れて混同が進み、明治以降は、手柄の意の「コウミョウ」を、専ら「功名」と表記するようになった。→「こうみょう（功名）」の語誌

こう‐めいカウ‥【高名】

〘名〙 (「めい」は「名」の慣用音)① (形動) ＝こうみょう（高名）②※平家（１３Ｃ前）六「信濃に有し木曾路河とうたはれけるぞ、時にとっての高名(カウメイ)（高良本ルビ）なる」※人情本・春色梅児誉美（1832‐33）後「高名(カウメイ)書画の花押にくはしく」〔韓非子‐十過〕② 相手を敬って、その名前をいう語。お名前。※滑稽本・東海道中膝栗毛（1802‐09）五「『わっちゃア、十返舎一九と申やす』『ハハア御高名(カウメイ)うけたまはりおよびました、十返舎先生でござりますか』」[語誌]→「こうみょう（高名）」の語誌

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