[Etymology] Nihon Shakumei (32) Grasses (Butterbur, Moss, Fragrance, Hydrangea, Iris, etc.)
|Butterbur (Fuki)
It is "fuyuki". The "yu" is omitted. It is because it blooms yellow flowers in winter.
|Japanese parsley (Seri)
It is "semari". It grows densely in one place, crowding together.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 51" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Moss (Koke)
It is "|small hair (koke)". It is fine and like hair.
|Fragrance (Niohi)
"Ni" means "gentle/soft". "Hi" means "to grow". When plants grow gently, there is a fragrance. It is a mistake to read "匂" as "niohi".
Oil (Abura)
It means "to roast" because one roasts the seeds of plants and presses out their oil. Steaming and pressing out oil must be a later development. Taking oil from fish, birds, and beasts is also done by roasting and rendering.
* Reference: "Kobunko Vol. 1" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Indigo (Ai)
"Ai" is "blue color (aoiro)". The "ro" is omitted.
|Hollyhock (Aoi)
"Au" means "to look up at". "Hi" means "sun". It looks up at the sun. The hollyhock is something that faces the sun.
* Reference: "Gimon Kanazukai Part 1" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Hydrangea (Ajisai)
It is "atsusaki" (thick blooming). It is a flower that blooms thickly. "I" and "ki" are interchangeable.
Bush Clover
Its leaves turn yellow quickly. In the 'Manyoshu', it is also written as 'Gashi'.
* The 'Gashi' written in the Manyoshu refers to 'Ubagi' (also recorded as 'Ume-go').
* 'Gashi' Reference: 'Wakun no Shiori 1', 'Koji Ruien, Botany Section 13' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Thorny Bush
This grass has thorns and is 'odororoshiki' (menacing/thorny). 'Otoroshiki' means 'osoroshiki' (frightening).
Plantain
It is a 'large leaf' (oho-ba). The 'ko' is a suffix.
Ivy
It is 'tsutau' (to climb/trail). It is something that trails over trees.
* 'Ji-kin' is another name for Ivy.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien, Vol. 51' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Nori (Laver)
It is because when boiled, it becomes like 'nori' (paste).
Iris
'Kaki' is 'kakeri' (flying). The reverse of 'keri' is 'ki'. 'Tsuba' is 'tsubame' (swallow). The 'me' is omitted. 'Ta' is 'tatsu'. The shape of the flower resembles a flying swallow spreading its wings, stopping briefly on something, and standing. It is 'kakeru tsubame tatsu' (flying swallow standing). Because it resembles a swallow, it is also called 'Enshika' (Iris) in Chinese books.
* 'Kara' means China.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien, Vol. 50' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Rush
It is 'iru' (to enter/to be). It is a grass used to make mats. Mats are things for people to sit on.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien, Vol. 50' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Ginger
The edge is red. The 'a' is omitted. 'Hashikami' refers to the red edges of the stems and roots.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 50' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Tobacco
Appears in 'Pengxi Leishuo'. 'Zhangzhou Fuzhi' writes it as 'Tanbako'. Both refer to tobacco. 'Tabako' is a name from China. It is not a Japanese word. Writing it as 'Tanbako' (丹波粉) is incorrect. This item did not exist in Japan in the past. It arrived from a foreign country around the Tensho and Bunroku eras. 'Bencao Dongquan' calls it 'Yancao' or 'Xiangsi Cao'.
* 'Zhangzhou Fuzhi' is a book from the Qing dynasty. Reference: 'Zhangzhou Fuzhi' (National Archives of Japan Digital Archive) * 'Hi' means around that time. * 'Bencao Dongquan' is a book from the Qing dynasty. Reference: '
Bencao Dongquan' (National Archives of Japan Digital Archive) * Reference: 'Shumi Taikan
' 'Koji Ruien Vol. 51' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Taozhu (Peach Bamboo)
Taozhu is used to wrap things by splitting the bamboo skin. It comes from a foreign country. It is not a Japanese word.
Strawberry
Its fruit is like a child with fish blood.
* Reference: 'Kokugogaku Tsuko' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Floating Heart (Asaza)
A grass that grows in shallow water and blooms with yellow flowers. It is 'asazaki' (shallow blooming). Some say 'asaza' is 'kōhone' (Nuphar japonica). It is not the floating heart. The floating heart is a small grass. It resembles ivy.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 51' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Japanese Ginger (Myoga)
'Wamyō Ruijushō' says 'meka'. I now think it is based on the sound.
Curly Dock (Shinone)
'Wamyō Ruijushō' calls it 'shibukusa' (astringent grass). It also calls it 'shi'. I now think that because its taste is astringent, it is called 'shibukusa'. Also, 'shi' is an abbreviation of 'shibukusa'. It is also commonly known as the grass called 'shinone'. Its root resembles rhubarb. In the 'Man'yōshū', this grass is also called 'shi'.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 51' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Silver Vine (Matatabi)
It is 'matatsumi'. 'Tsu' is a particle. 'Mi' and 'hi' are interchangeable. It is called 'matatsumi' because there are two types of fruit: long fruit and open fruit. 'Mata' means two.
* Reference: 'Kōbunko Vol. 18' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Bamboo Grove
It is 'takamura' (bamboo grove). It refers to a cluster of bamboo.
* Reference: 'Nihon Gogen (Japanese Etymology) Vol. 2' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Node/Joint
'Fushi' (joint) is 'futoshi' (thick). A bamboo joint is a thick part. The same applies to trees.
Goosefoot
'Aka' means red. 'Sa' is phonetically interchangeable with 'na'. It is 'akana' (red greens).
Sedge
'Sugasugashi' (refreshing) means a pure heart. It is used as a tool for purification and is a pure thing. One theory is that it is 'sugu' (straight). It is a grass that stands straight without leaves.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 50' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Author's note: ● represents characters that could not be deciphered. I will update this as I decipher new characters or notice typos and misreadings. For details, please read the 'Introduction/Disclaimer'. 📖