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Author Archives: Confanity
The playground of Tengu!
天上天下 ten.jou.ten.ge Literally: heavens – up – heavens – down Alternately: The world above the sky (the heavens) and the world below the sky (the earth). Also, the space between heaven and earth. The whole world. Notes: Reading 下 as … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Buddhism, everything, 錠阿含経, fighting manga, the world, 天上, 天下
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Birds of any feather care for kids together
Don’t be the kind of sordid villain that drives parents to this level of protective sacrifice. Don’t allow that kind of villain to hold any power over others. Think of the children. 焼け野の雉子夜の鶴 (Yakeno no kigisu yoru no tsuru; “The … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged birds, 焼野の雉, parental love, parents, protective, 夜の鶴
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Written on the 4th of July
(I searched for phrases using 独 because of the 独立記念日.) 唯我独尊 yui.ga.doku.son Literally: only – self – alone – precious Alternately: Thinking that oneself is the best in the world. Being so self-assured that you don’t listen to anyone else. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged arrogance, Buddhism, 独尊, exceptionalism, 釈迦, 長阿含経, 唯我
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Nor trying at plying
All the songless birds can fly, though 鳴かず飛ばず (Nakazu tobazu; “Nor crying nor flying”) Definition: Quietly waiting one’s chance. Doing nothing for a long time, but with the specific intention of taking action as soon as the opportunity finally comes. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged biding, 荘王, Records of the Grand Historian, story, waiting, 史記
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Reverse the order for Biblical time
Something birds, something stones? 一朝一夕 i-.cchou.i-.sseki Literally: one – morning – one – evening Alternately: A single day. By extension, a brief and fleeting span of time. Often used in a negative structure to express that something can’t be done … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged dieting, I Ching, one day, short time, 易経, 一夕, 一旦, 一朝
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Waft your way to a win?
身を捨ててこそ浮かぶ瀬もあれ (Mi wo sutete koso ukabu se mo are; “There are rivers that you cross by throwing away your body”) Definition: Sometimes facing danger head-on is the only way to escape it. There are times when you need to be … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged classical Japanese grammar, combat training, danger, 身を捨てる, safety, taking risks, 尤双紙, 浮かぶ瀬, 仮名草子
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Cosmic triage
悪人正機 aku.nin.shou.ki Literally: evil – person – correct – loom / machine Alternately: No matter how evil a person is, the Buddha’s wish is for them to be saved. Or perhaps, the worse a person is, the more important it … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Buddhism, 親鸞, ideals, redemption, 悪人, 歎異抄, 正機, 浄土真宗
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