The short story of Kanji pictures
This kanji originally depicted a grand shelf or hanger used to hook DRUMS and BELLS for sacred festivals. Over time, its meaning shifted to represent ‘A PLACE WHERE IMPORTANT THINGS ARE SET.’ Today, this character has evolved to mean ‘STUDY’ or ‘ACADEMIC WORK’ in Japanese.
In this character, you can see a rope coiled up underneath a table. This figure directly depicts that hidden situation. Therefore, this kanji carries the meaning of ‘HIDDEN,’ ‘CAN’T SEE CLEARLY,’ or ‘BLACK’ in Japanese.
This kanji describes a man who has started to dance with joy, so the character itself means ‘ENJOY’ or ‘FUN.’ When you combine this kanji with another character meaning ‘SOUND,’ it forms a new word—’MUSIC’ (On-gaku)!
This kanji combines a ‘MOUNTAIN’ and a ‘SLOPE’ with layers of ‘EARTH’ at the bottom. This powerful combination represents a steep, rugged ‘CLIFF’ in nature.
This kanji is composed of two symbolic elements. On the left, you can see the character for ‘FANG’ (or ivory), which represents strength and correctness. On the right, there is a ‘BIRD.’ Together, they create a beautiful harmony of power and grace, which is why this kanji means ‘REFINED,’ ‘ELEGANT,’ or ‘GRACEFUL’ in Japanese.
In this character, you can see a sacred fire for ancestors placed upon a human skull. Ancient people believed it was vital to remember what their ancestors had done. This is how this kanji came to mean ‘OLD’ or ‘ANCIENT.’
