[Etymology] Nihon Shakumei (35) Food and Drink (Sake, Medicine, Porridge, Side Dishes, Salt, Rice, etc.)

|Konagaki (Konagake)

This refers to what is called 'zousui' (rice porridge). Dictionaries state, 'Mixing grain into soup.' 'Ko' is 'rice.' 'Na' is 'vegetables.' 'Kaki' means 'to mix.' It also refers to scattering rice. In Du Fu's poetry, it says, 'Scattering willow catkins on the path.' That must be 'konagake'.

* 'Zousui' is rice porridge.
* 'Du Fu's poetry' refers to the poems of the Tang dynasty poet |Du Fu.
* 'Scattering willow catkins on the path' is
Willow catkins scatter on the path, spreading like a white felt rug; the lotus leaves on the stream are stacked like green coins.
The bamboo shoots are unseen by anyone; the ducklings sleep beside their mother on the sand.
Reference: 'Yuhodo Bunko [No. 32]', 'Kou Bunko, Vol. 8' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

|Chimaki (Rice dumpling)

It is named this because it is wrapped in bamboo leaves, cogon grass leaves, etc., and tied with |cogon grass. Also, in ancient times, was it wrapped in cogon grass?

Sake (Alcohol)

It means 'to ward off.' It wards off wind, cold, and evil spirits. Senkaku's 'Manyoshu Commentary' says, 'Saka' is a word meaning 'to flourish.' Sake banquets are held because everyone enjoys flourishing. Also, 'miki' (sacred sake)—'mi' is an honorific prefix. It is a word of appreciation. 'Ki' is 'breath' (iki). When people get drunk, they exhale breath. This theory is good.

Another theory: Because drinking sake makes evil spirits stay three inches (san-zun) away, it is called |'miki' (three inches). This theory should not be used. The reason 'three inches' is written in the 'Manyoshu' is that 'miki' (sacred sake) and 'miki' (three inches) have the same reading, so it was borrowed. It is not meant to capture the meaning of the characters. In the 'Manyoshu,' there are many cases where characters are borrowed because the readings are the same, even if the meanings are different.

* 'Senkaku' was a Manyoshu scholar of the Kamakura period.
* 'Manyoshu Commentary' refers to the 'Manyoshu Chushaku (Senkaku-sho).' Reference: 'Manyoshu Chushaku, 20 volumes [Complete Collection]' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
* Reference: 'Nada Sake History', 'Ikeda Sake History', 'Shumi Taikan' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

|Atsumono (Hot soup)

The soup served with rice is best when hot. The 'Book of Rites' also says, 'The preparation of hot soup is likened to the summer season.'

* Reference: 'Koji Ruien, Vol. 44' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

|Kusuri (Medicine)

It means 'to smoke' (kusubori). 'Kusubori' means to |scent strongly with incense. Medicine is something that has a fragrant scent. Another theory: 'kusu' is 'kesu' (to extinguish). It extinguishes illness. 'Ri' is a suffix.

* Reference: 'Kou Bunko, Vol. 6' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

|Kayu (Porridge)

It is 'kashiki-yu' (cooked hot water). It means to cook rice and turn it into hot water.

* "Kashiku" means to cook (kashiku). It refers to cooking rice by boiling or steaming rice or barley.

Side dish (Sakana)

"Saka" is "sake" (alcohol). "Na" is "nakadachi" (intermediary). It is the intermediary that encourages drinking sake.

* The reading "nakadachi" for "nakadachi" means an intermediary.

Shitogi (rice flour cake)

It is "shirotogi" (white washing). "Shitogi" means to wash rice and polish it until it is white. "Togu" means to polish and wash rice.

* Reference: "Introduction to Dialectology" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

Dregs (Kasu)

It comes from "kosu" (to strain). What remains after straining sake becomes dregs.

* Reference: "Koji Ruien, Volume 44" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

Candy (Ame)

"Ame" is "ama". It means sweet. "Me" and "ma" are interchangeable.

Paste (Nori)

It is "neri" (kneading). It means to boil rice in water and knead it. "Ne" and "no" are interchangeable. Also, it is "nuri" (coating). It means to coat silk or paper. "Nu" and "no" are interchangeable.

Salt (Shiho)

Since it is a product made from seawater, the reading for "ushio" (tide) is borrowed and used.

Kumashine (sacrificial rice)

This refers to rice offered before the gods. This is "kumai" (offered rice). The sound is used as the reading. "Shi" is a particle. "Ne" is "yone" (rice).

Rice (Meshi)

It is 'umashi' (delicious). The first part is omitted. 'Ma' and 'me' are interchangeable.

|Kikujin (Koji)

Perhaps 'kikujin' was transformed into 'koji'. 'Ki' and 'ko' are interchangeable. Also, yellow is called 'kijin'. 'Kikujin' has been abbreviated. It is the color of koji.

* 'Kikujin' is a yellowish color of sprout green. Kijin-iro. Reference: 'Dai Nihon Kokugo Jiten Vol. 1 (kikujin) (kijin, kijin-iro)' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
* 'Tōjite' means to change or transform.
* Reference: 'Gimon Kanazukai Zenpen' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

|Hitsuchi (Rice stubble)

Refers to rice that regrows and bears fruit. After harvesting the autumn fields and draining the water, it grows from the |hitchi (dry soil), so it is called 'hitsuchi'.

* 'Hitsuchi' is |hitsuchi (rice stubble). Rice that grows from harvested stalks.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 50' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

|Sueru (To go bad/sour)

When rice or similar food has been left for a long time and the taste changes and becomes poor, it is called 'sueru'. 'Su' is 'sue' (end). At first, the taste is delicious. By the end, the taste becomes bad. Saying 'aji no suku' (taste becomes poor) also refers to 'sue' (end).

* Reference: 'Shōnai Hōgenkō (sureru)' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

|Himorogi (Sacrificial meat)

Refers to the remainder of sacrificial meat. 'Hi' is 'hi' (day). 'Moro' is 'furu' (to pass). The sounds are interchangeable. 'Gi' is 'shoku' (food). It means to eat after days have passed. 'Kensuru so o' (offering the sacrificial meat) also refers to the day after the |Shakuten (Confucian ceremony), when the offerings from yesterday were presented from the Daigakuryō (Imperial University) to the Imperial Palace.

* 'Kensuru so o' means to offer |so (sacrificial meat). In the Shakuten ceremony to worship Confucius, it means offering the meat of sacrifices such as cows or sheep.
* '|Shakuten' is a ceremony held at the Daigakuryō to worship Confucius on the day of the 'hinoto' in the second and eighth lunar months. Also read as sekiten, shakuten, or shakuden.
* Reference: 'Kōbunko Vol. 17' 'Dai Nihon Kokugo Jiten Vol. 2 (shakuden)' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)

Author's note: ● indicates characters that could not be deciphered, and □ indicates missing characters.
I will update this as I decipher new characters or notice typos/misreadings. For details, please read 'Self-Introduction/Disclaimer'. 📖