“In order to be a useful person in the world, one should strive to attain human virtue, educational virtue and divine virtue. — Konko founder 人 (Jin) means “human.” This character symbolizes two people supporting each other. When we support each other, we receive “human virtue.” 学 (Gaku) means “education,” which consists of two parts. […]
The Heart of Kanji
THE HEART OF KANJI: Human virtue, educational virtue and divine virtue
June 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment
THE HEART OF KANJI: Accept and stand firmly
May 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
受けて (ukete) means “accept or receive,” and consists of three parts. The top part represents one’s hands and fingers, the middle part represents a boat and the bottom part represents one’s arms. When a boat brings us items or materials, we accept or receive them with our hands, fingers and arms. 立つ (tatsu) means “stand,” […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Joy, even if you are in suffering
March 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
困る (komaru) means “suffering,” and consists of two parts. The outside lines represent a box, and the inside lines represent a tree. The tree can’t get out of the box, so it suffers. 喜べ (yorokobe) means “joy,” and consists of two parts. The top part represents a drum or musical instruments on a stand. Below, […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Divine dragon
February 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
龍 (ryu or tatsu) means “dragon,” which consists of three parts. The top left side represents a person standing, and below that represents the moon. The right side represents the form of a dragon. 神 (jin or Kami) means “God,” which consists of two parts. The left side represents a divine altar and the right […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Look carefully inside oneself
January 1, 2012 by 1 Comment
Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you for reading my “Heart of Kanji” column this past year. Please continue to read any future columns in 2012. 内 (nai or uchi) means “inside,” which represents an entrance door to a house with a short curtain hanging on the inside. 観 (kan or miru) means “look or observe […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Debt
October 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
借 (Shak) means “debt,” and consists of two parts. The left side is a person standing. The bottom right side is the sun, which represents the date. Above it is continuity. Together it means many people have been helping someone for many days, so the person is in debt to many people. 金 (Kin) means […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: An eternal journey
August 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment
永 (Ei) means “eternity,” and consists of two parts. The top dot is shaped like a single drop of rain. The bottom is a stream from a great river that continues to the sea or ocean. 遠 (En, Tooii) means “far distance,” and consists of two parts. The right side is a person who wears […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: True Revival
June 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
真 (Makoto or Shin) means “true or truth,” and forms a person’s head and face facing down, to indicate a person’s death. When a person dies, he or she doesn’t change; he is unchangeable and becomes egoless. And 復 (Fuku) means “revival,” which consists of three parts. The left side of the character represents half […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Big wave
April 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
大 (Oo, Dai or Ookii) means “big,” which is a form of a big person who is standing. 津 (Tsu) means “harbor or port, come in and come out,” which consists of two parts. The left represents water and the right is a person whose hand is holding a stick. Water in the harbor comes […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Healthy Future
健康 (Kenko) means “health,” which I explained in my Oct. 20-26, 2011 column. 未来 (Mirai) means “future.” 未 (mi) means “not ripe yet,” and consists of two parts. The top horizontal line represents fruit that is not yet ripe and the bottom line represents a tree. 来 (rai or kuru) means “come,” and consists of […]