[Etymology] Nihon Shakumei (3) Seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Traditional Month Names, New Moon, Full Moon, etc.)
II. Seasons
Time
"Toki" (time) means "toki" (swift). It has the meaning of being fast. Time is something that passes quickly.
Year
"Toshi" (year) means "toshi" (swift). It has the meaning of being fast. Because time flies like an arrow and years pass by quickly, it is called "toshi." In a poem from the "Kokinshu," it is said, "todomeyarazu mube mo toshi" (cannot stop it, indeed it is a year). This is written as if to say, how heartlessly the years pass by.
* "Todomeyarazu mube mo toshi" is a poem included in the Kokin Wakashu.
Todomeahezu mube mo toshi to wa iwarekeri
shikamo tsurenaku suguru yowai ka
* "Suguru yowai" means passing age.
Spring
It means "haru" (clear). In winter, there is much yin energy, but in spring, the sky is often clear. Another theory is that "haru" means "aru" (to exist). In winter, everything disappears, but when spring arrives, all things are born and come into existence. It is also said to mean "haru" (to stretch). It is the budding of plants and trees. The first theory should be used.
Summer
It means "atsu" (hot). "A" and "na" are interchangeable. Summer is hot.
Autumn
It means "akiraka" (clear/bright). In autumn, the sky is clear. Some say it means "ake" (scarlet). It is when plants and trees turn red. Another theory is that it means "naki" (non-existence). When all things reach autumn, they wither and fall, fading away. This is in contrast to spring being called "aru" (existence). The first theory is also good here.
Winter
It means "hiyu" (to freeze). "Hiyu" means cold. "Hi" and "fu" are interchangeable.
January (Mutsuki)
In the "Kiyosuke Ougisho," it is said that because people of high and low status come and go, it is abbreviated from "mutsubitsuki" (month of intimacy). Atsunobu says this is the month when friends and acquaintances visit each other, and because they become intimate, it is called "mutsubitsuki." The definitions of the twelve months from here on all appear in the "Ougisho."
Why is it called "Shogatsu" (New Year's month) instead of "Ichigatsu" (first month)? In a book called "Zuo Zhuan Zhengyi," it says that "sho" (correct/first) means "cho" (head/leader). It is the head month of the year. Although it is not a Japanese word, it is a term commonly used in the world, so I record it here.
* "Kiyosuke Ougisho" is a book on poetics written in the late Heian period. The author is Fujiwara no Kiyosuke. Reference: "Ougisho" (National Archives of Japan Digital Archive)
* "Takaki iyashiki yukitaru" means high and low status people coming and going.
* "Atsunobu" is the name of Kaibara Ekiken, the author of "Nihon Shakumei."
* "Zuo Zhuan Zhengyi" is a Tang dynasty commentary on the historical book "Spring and Autumn Annals" (Zuo Zhuan), which is said to have been compiled by Confucius. "Chunqiu Zuozhuan Zhengyi."
* "Narawaseru kotoba" means words that have become customary.
February
Because it is cold and one must wear additional clothing, it is an abbreviation of 'kinusaragi' (wearing more clothes).
* 'Sara ni kinu o kirereba' means to wear more silk/clothing. * 'Kinusaragi' refers to 'wearing more silk/clothing'.
March
Because the wind and rain are renewed and plants and trees grow more and more, it is an abbreviation of 'iyaoi-zuki' (the month of increased growth).
* 'Ofuru' means to grow.
April
Because the Deutzia flowers bloom in full, it is an abbreviation of 'unohana-zuki' (the month of Deutzia flowers).
May
Because it is the peak of rice planting, it is an abbreviation of 'sanae-zuki' (the month of rice seedlings).
* 'Ta-ufuru' means to plant rice. * 'Sanae' refers to early rice seedlings used for planting.
June
Because the tasks of farming are all finished, it is an abbreviation of 'minashitsuki' (the month of completion). Another theory is that because this month is truly hot and water springs dry up, it is an abbreviation of 'midzunashi-zuki' (the month without water).
* 'Minashitsukitaru' means all are finished. * 'Karetsukuru' means to dry up completely.
July
Because books are opened on the seventh day for the Tanabata festival, it is an abbreviation of 'fumizuki' (the month of books).
* 'Kasu' likely refers to 'kasu' (to place on a rack/bridge).
August
Because tree leaves turn red and fall, it is an abbreviation of 'haochi-zuki' (the month of falling leaves).
* "Momidite otsuru" means to turn red and fall.
|September (Nagatsuki)
Because the nights gradually become longer, it is an abbreviation of 'yonaga-zuki' (long-night month).
|October (Kaminatsuki)
Because all the gods of the world go to Izumo Province, and there are no gods in other provinces, it is an abbreviation of 'kami-nashi-zuki' (month without gods).
The 'Shirin Senyōshō' says, 'The passing of Susanoo-no-Mikoto is in the winter, the tenth month. For this reason, the tenth month is called Kannazuki.' Tokushin says, 'There are many theories about Kaminazuki. A recent theory suggests that since the tenth month is the month of pure yin, it means the month without yang. Oni (demon) is called 'oni' because it is yin. Kami (god) is called 'kami' because it is yang. This theory has merit. However, in ancient times, there should not have been such a debate. One theory states that the law of the tenth month is 'jōmu' (upper-nothing). For this reason, it is called Jōmuzuki. In the tenth month, the yang energy does not rise upward, so it is called jōmu.'
* 'Shirin Senyōshō' is a book on poetics written in the late Kamakura period. Reference: 'Shirin Senyōshō' (National Archives of Japan Digital Archive)
|November (Shimotsuki)
Because frost falls incessantly, it is an abbreviation of 'shimofuri-zuki' (frost-falling month).
|December (Shiwasu)
Because monks are invited to recite the names of Buddhas, certain sutras are read, and people run about east and west, it is an abbreviation of 'kami-hase-zuki' (month of gods running). This is from 'Ōgishō'.
Tokushin says, 'The term shiwasu likely comes from 'shihatsu-zuki' (month when the four seasons end). 'Tsu' and 'su' are interchangeable. There is a Shihatsu Mountain in Bungo. It is written as Shikiyoku Mountain. This should be the proof. Just as the twelfth month is colloquially called the 'extreme month,' because it is the month when the four seasons reach their end, it should be the 'four-extreme (shihatsu) month.' The theories of the ancients are truly hard to criticize. However, the 'shi-su' (teacher-running) theory is likely a misguided one.'
* 'Shihatsu Mountain' refers to Mt. Takasaki in Oita Prefecture. * 'Misguided theory' refers to a theory that does not make sense.
New Moon (Saku)
It means the moon 'tatsu' (appears). 'Futsuka' (the second day) is 'futaka'. 'Ka' means day. The meaning of 'ka' in other days is the same. The 'i' in 'muika' (the sixth day) is an elongated sound. 'Nanuka' (the seventh day) is 'nanaka'. 'Nu' and 'na' are interchangeable. The 'u' in 'yōka' (the eighth day) is an elongated sound. Saying 'muyuka' or 'yawoka' is incorrect.
* 'Elongated sound' refers to inserting the sounds 'i', 'u', or 'n' between words to draw out the pronunciation. * 'Higagoto' means a mistake or something that does not align with reason or fact.
|Full Moon (Mochizuki)
'Mochi' means 'mitsu' (to be full). 'Mo' and 'mi' are interchangeable. It is because the moon on the fifteenth night is round and full. Some say it is because the moon is round like the shape of a rice cake (mochi). This theory is bad.
* 'Madoka' means round. * 'Mochii' means rice cake. * 'Ashishi' means bad.
Author's note: ● indicates 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 "Self-Introduction/Disclaimer" section. 📖