The short story of Kanji pictures
To receive messages from the divine, ancient people prayed over a clay pot covered with a stone and listened for the vibrations within it. This is why this character means ‘sound.’ When combined with another character that means ‘enjoy,’ it creates the word for ‘music’!
This character consists of two parts. On the left is a ladder reaching straight to heaven, and on the right, you can see a deity descending from above. Therefore, this character means ‘descend’.
Can you see this figure as a demon? He stands there watching you, clutching something ominous in his left hand. Over time, this eerie image gradually transformed into the character we see today.
The exact meaning of this character can be difficult to translate because English has no single direct equivalent. Originally portraying someone skillfully guiding a horse down a path, this character has come to symbolize the highest level of respect, honor, and reverence used for sacred or noble things.
Within this shape, you can find a mountain along with a flat open space. As you can see, this character represents a ‘hill’.
This character portrays a candle with a burning flame. In this context, the fire symbolizes a ‘center’ or ‘main source’ that brightens everything around it. Therefore, this character means something that acts as a core or central figure that people put their faith in.
Words expressing destinations or directions are believed to have originated in primitive times. This character means ‘west,’ as it portrays a bird resting in its nest—signifying the place where they fly back to when the sun goes down.
