Japanese character of the day: kuzu ~ two moons (see left) under a mountain (see right). 崩れる kuzureru ~ to collapse, fall to pieces; 崩す kuzusu ~ 1. to demolish 2. to break a large ¥ note or bill 3. to write simplified Chinese characters (!) This is the poetry of writing. What do two moons under a mountain really signify?
If you literally see two moons under a mountain (as reflected in a pool) you're either seeing double or the water is agitated ~ either way is a way to unrest or even destruction. But a moon 月 (tsuki) usually signifies a month 月 (gatsu). If you take a mountain 山 (yama) to mean a city or civilization the two months under the mountain would be a siege leading to collapse of society.
And there we have it: two moons under a mountain 崩.
Utter demolition and ruin!
Pretty neat stuff.
ReplyDeleteI have agitated water but no moon as the sun is out and my washing machine is at work ;)
ReplyDelete... just to let you know Gleds I'm having a break from posting and have put my blog to bed for the time being. I'll still be visiting*!*
Bimbimbie: why? Did something happen..?
ReplyDeleteSyd: そうですよね？
ReplyDeleteThat means "it is, isn't it?" : so desu-ne.
ReplyDeleteAnd that famous "karate chop" phrase looks like this:
ああ、そう！
"aa ~ so!"
but really it means ~ "oh right" ~ nothing to do with chopping wood with the side of your hand at all!