The short story of Kanji pictures
Along the old Kōshū Kaidō highway and around the grounds of Yaho Tenmangu Shrine, several stone structures and survey markers used for road surveying and leveling benchmarks of that era can still be found; they stand as valuable historical relics that convey the time when the present-day city of Kunitachi was once part of Kitatama District in Kanagawa Prefecture.
This kanji originally depicted wheat bowing its head under the weight of its grains. In ancient times, wheat was brought from the West to Asia and quickly became an essential food for the people. Because of this, the character for wheat came to symbolize a gift from heaven. By extension, it came to mean ‘to come.’
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘woman’ radical, representing a female shaman kneeling in prayer. On the right is the ‘mouth’ radical, representing words received from the gods. Combined, this kanji originally depicted a shaman speaking on behalf of a deity—acting as if she were the god herself. Over time, it came to mean ‘as if’ or ‘like.’
The exact reason why this kanji means ‘five’ is actually unknown, and several different theories have been passed down since ancient times. One story suggests that it depicts an open hand showing all five fingers. Can you see it in this kanji?
Where the Yagawa River crosses the Koshu-kaido Highway once stood Yagawa Bridge, a beloved local landmark during the Edo period. Nearby stands this small temple, known as ‘Gochi Nyorai,’ which was built by people who migrated here from Hachioji. Even today, local residents gather once a year in October to hold a small ceremony to honor and pray at this temple.
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is an altar dedicated to the gods, and on the right is a mound of earth raised in gratitude for a bountiful harvest and good health. Therefore, this kanji represents ‘Zen’—a mindset of gratitude for everything.
This kanji originally depicted a person on top of a tower, keeping watch into the distance day and night. Because of this, the kanji came to mean ‘hope’—the kind that never gives up and seeks a way to break through difficult situations.
This kanji is made of two parts. At the top is an element showing crisscrossed threads, representing a thin cloth with a loose, open weave—something so difficult to craft that it was considered very rare. At the bottom is the ‘cloth’ radical. Combined, this kanji originally represented a rare, loosely woven fabric. Over time, it came to mean ‘rare’ or ‘scarce,’ and by extension, ‘to wish for’ or ‘hope’ for something precious.”
This kanji depicts a woman and a man lying in bed together. It originally represented the very root of human life and family lineage. Because of this, the kanji came to mean ‘marriage.’
This kanji depicts a person lying down on a mat or bed. Over time, this idea of depending or resting on something evolved to mean ‘cause,‘’root’ ‘origin,’ or ‘the reason behind something.’