How obscure is the use of 令 in 令和?


I actually like the new 年号 kanji 令和, but I must admit I was surprised by the
choice of 令. According to [this
article](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/02/national/70-approve-
reiwa-name-japans-next-imperial-era-poll-shows/) in the Japan Times,

> The new era name is composed of two Chinese characters — “rei” meaning
> “good” or “auspicious” but also denoting “command,” and “wa” meaning
> “harmony” or “peace.”

This seems to give the impression that 'command' is a subordinate meaning, but
I I believe I am correct in saying that the dominant meaning of 令 by far is
'command' or 'order', and that the meaning of 'good' or 'auspicious' is a very
obscure usage. Most modern words containing 令 denote the 'command' meaning
(see [here](https://jisho.org/search/*%E4%BB%A4*%20%23words?page=2)). Yes, I
understand that they chose a historical text of key importance, but perhaps
someone could enlighten us on what the process might have been on selecting
that particular character. I defer to the knowledge of scholars of course, but
I am very curious as to how/why they came to agreement on 令. Am I correct in
assuming that most Japanese people were not aware of this obscure meaning of
令?




All the previous _nengo_ are from _Chinese_ Classical Chinese texts - this
should set a precedence that, if you aren't familiar with the Chinese
Classics, you wouldn't (fully) understand the choice of characters in a
_nengo_.

Even though the source text of the current _nengo_ is from the Japanese
[_Man'yōshū_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27y%C5%8Dsh%C5%AB), the choice
from this context is also _kanbun_ , and steeped in Classical Chinese
vocabulary:

> 于時、初春「令」月、氣淑風「和」、梅披鏡前之粉、蘭薫珮後之香。
>
> Translation (as [given in
> Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiwa_period)):
>
> _The time is young spring in a fair ( "Rei") month, when the air is clear
> and the wind a gentle ("wa") breeze; when the plum flowers blossom a
> beauty's charming white, and the fragrance of the orchids is their own sweet
> perfume._

I personally wouldn't have mentioned the meaning _command_ for「令」; although
that is its original meaning and also primary meaning for modern vocabulary,
it is not relevant here. Please note the word from the poem is「令月」, which is a
vocabulary item from Classical Chinese meaning _auspicious month_ (not
"command month", which is nonsensical). From the [_Book of Etiquette and
Ceremonial_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette_and_Ceremonial):

> 《儀禮・士冠禮》：＂令月吉日，始加元服，棄爾幼志，順爾成德，壽考惟祺，介爾景福。＂
>
> _Choose an auspicious month and day, wear a cap (in the coming-of-age
> capping ceremony), shed yourself of immaturity, and cultivate the noble
> virtues in adulthood. Longevity and auspiciousness are yours, and may great
> fortune be bestowed upon you._




All the previous _nengo_ are from _Chinese_ Classical Chinese texts - this
should set a precedence that, if you aren't familiar with the Chinese
Classics, you wouldn't (fully) understand the choice of characters in a
_nengo_.

Even though the source text of the current _nengo_ is from the Japanese
[_Man'yōshū_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27y%C5%8Dsh%C5%AB), the choice
from this context is also _kanbun_ , and steeped in Classical Chinese
vocabulary:

> 于時、初春「令」月、氣淑風「和」、梅披鏡前之粉、蘭薫珮後之香。
>
> Translation (as [given in
> Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiwa_period)):
>
> _The time is young spring in a fair ( "Rei") month, when the air is clear
> and the wind a gentle ("wa") breeze; when the plum flowers blossom a
> beauty's charming white, and the fragrance of the orchids is their own sweet
> perfume._

I personally wouldn't have mentioned the meaning _command_ for「令」; although
that is its original meaning and also primary meaning for modern vocabulary,
it is not relevant here. Please note the word from the poem is「令月」, which is a
vocabulary item from Classical Chinese meaning _auspicious month_ (not
"command month", which is nonsensical). From the [_Book of Etiquette and
Ceremonial_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette_and_Ceremonial):

> 《儀禮・士冠禮》：＂令月吉日，始加元服，棄爾幼志，順爾成德，壽考惟祺，介爾景福。＂
>
> _Choose an auspicious month and day, wear a cap (in the coming-of-age
> capping ceremony), shed yourself of immaturity, and cultivate the noble
> virtues in adulthood. Longevity and auspiciousness are yours, and may great
> fortune be bestowed upon you._

