[Etymology] Nihon Shakumei (5) Geography (East, West, South, North, Imperial Tombs, Wells, Waterfalls, Ponds, Springs, etc.)
East
It is the head of the sun. The character 'ra' is omitted. It is the place where the sun first emerges, the head.
West
It is 'inishi' (gone). The sun goes to the west. It means the sun has gone. The 'i' is omitted.
South
It means that all things are visible. When the sun is in the south, it is bright and everything can be seen.
North
The 'Jikishisho' says that the northern direction is black in color. In ancient times, the color black was called 'kitanashi'. The character 'nashi' does not have the meaning of the character 'nothing' (mu). It is a grammatical particle. The theory in 'Jikishisho' is truly clear. Alternatively, since the north is the direction where yang first arises, it may mean the direction where all things come to life. It is the midnight of the winter solstice. It is when one yang returns.
* 'Midnight of the winter solstice' is a passage from a poem by the Northern Song Confucian scholar Shao Yong. Reference: 'Rinen Getsurei 8 (Winter Solstice, Song, Shao Yong)' (National Diet Library Digital Collections) * 'One yang returns' means that winter ends and spring arrives, or moving toward good fortune after a series of bad events.
Village (Ri)
'Sa' means 'small'. 'Sebaki nari' (to be narrow) refers to a place. It is a narrow place. A village is not a capital, but a narrow place.
Mountain (Yama)
It is 'yamu' (to stop). 'Yamu' means 'to remain'. It means to always remain and not move. 'Mu' and 'ma' are interchangeable.
River (Kawa)
It is 'kawaru' (to change). The flow of a running river is constant, yet it is not the original water. It is something that changes day and night. The 'kawaru' of a river is contrasted with the 'yamu' of a mountain.
* 'The flow of a running river...' is a passage from the beginning of Kamo no Chomei's 'Hojoki'. * 'Taiseri' means to be contrasted.
Valley (Tani)
It is 'shitami' (looking down). Because a valley is pulled down, it is 'looked down upon'. 'Mi' and 'ni' are interchangeable. The upper part is omitted.
* "Hikishi" means low.
Village (Mura)
"Mura" comes from "muragaru" (to swarm/gather). It is a place where people gather and live.
District (Kohori)
It means "kowari" (small division). It is the fine division of a province. "Wa" and "ha" are interchangeable, and "ha" and "ho" are interchangeable.
County (Agata)
It means "wakatsu" (to divide). It is the division of districts and counties. "Wa", "a", "tsu", and "ta" are interchangeable.
Province (Kuni)
This is likely an ancient native word. One theory is that in ancient times, even a village (yu) of a district was called "kuni," as seen frequently in the Nihon Shoki. It is referred to as the Kuni of Yoshino, the Kuni of Naniwa, etc. It is likely that the sound of "kori" (district) was used to say "kuni." There are many examples of using "koe" (sound) as a reading. This is similar to reading "sen" (coin) as "seni" or "ran" (orchid) as "rani".
Capital (Miyako)
It means "miya-dokoro" (palace place). It is the place where the Emperor's palace is located. The upper and lower characters of the word "dokoro" (place) have been abbreviated.
Road (Michi)
"Mi" comes from "ayumi" (walking). "Chi" comes from "tsuchi" (earth). It is the earth where people walk.
Hill (Oka)
It is "otaka." It is an abbreviation. It is because it is a high place on the tail (ridge) of a mountain.
* "Sho" means place (tokoro).
Countryside (Hina) / Rural area (Inaka)
Sengakusho states that "hina" has the meaning of "hi-naga" (long day). The character "ka" is abbreviated. In the countryside, one is bored and the days are long. "Inaka" is also "hinaga." "Hi" and "i" are interchangeable.
* "Sengakusho" refers to the "Manyoshu Chushaku (Sengakusho)" written by Sengaku. Reference: "Manyoshu Chushaku, 20 volumes [Complete Collection]" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Embankment (Tsutsumi)
It is to 'block and hold' water. Also, an |earthen embankment (dote) is called a 'tsutsumi'. It is 'earth piled up' (tsuchitsumi). It means piling up earth to make it high.
Bay (Ura)
'U' is 'sea' (umi). 'Ra' is 'side' (katahara). It is the side of the sea. Also, 'ura' means 'back' (ura). It is a place where boats are hidden from the wind. It is written as 'urawa' in the Manyoshu. It is a place that curves around.
Sea (Umi)
It is 'ukami' (floating). The middle is omitted. It is a place where boats float. Also, it is 'fukami' (depth). 'Fu' and 'u' are interchangeable.
* 'Ukami' and 'ukamu' are 'float' (ukami) and 'to float' (ukamu).
Plain (Hara)
'Hara' is 'hiro' (wide). The sounds are interchangeable. Also, it is 'hira' (flat). It is flat land.
|Imperial Tomb (Misasagi)
It is the 'august grave' (mi-haka) of an ancient emperor. 'Sasa' means small. 'Ki' means to build. It is built small. An imperial tomb is built smaller than a mountain. Generally, all small things are called 'sasa'. Small bamboo is called 'sasa'. Small chestnuts are called 'sasaguri'. Small stones are called 'sazare-ishi'. Small birds are called 'sazaki'. Small waves are called 'saza-nami'. A |spider (kumo) is called 'sasagani'. Being small is called 'sasayaka'.
|Grave (Haka)
It is 'buried and high' (hafumurite takaki). 'Hafumuri' has the lower part omitted, and 'takaki' has the upper and lower parts omitted.
* 'Hafumurite' is 'to bury' (houmurite).
|Mound (Tsuka)
'Tsuka' is 'to build' (tsuku). 'Ku' and 'ka' are interchangeable. 'Tsuka' is not limited to a |burial (sou) site; it refers to anything built high.
|Hedge (Makaki)
It is a front fence. The character 'he' is omitted.
|Well (Wi)
It is 'izu'. It is a place where water comes out. The lower part is omitted. One theory is that it is 'iru'. It means to gather. It is like saying 'iru' when birds gather. A well is a place where people gather to draw water. In the past, unlike in later generations, there were no wells in every house, so perhaps they gathered in one place to draw water.
Waterfall Hokufu
It is 'takaki' (high). The middle is omitted. It is water falling from a high place. It refers to a flying spring. The waterfall of Nachi, the waterfall of Minō, the waterfall of Otowa, etc., are all waterfalls. Also, 'taki' (rapids) refers to a swift current. It is not a flying spring. The rapids of the Saigawa in Yoshino, the Miya-taki, etc., are called 'taki' because the shallows are fast. They are not waterfalls. For these, the character '瀧' should be written. It means water rushing and falling. '瀑' (waterfall) and '瀧' (rapids) are not the same. '瀑' is the sound of 'hoku'. '瀧' is the sound of 'rō'.
* 'Flying spring' refers to water falling vigorously from a high place.
Pond
It is water where fish are kept.
Ditch
It means water is thin. One theory is that 'mi' is 'mizu sebaki' (narrow water). 'So' and 'sa' are interchangeable. The reverse of 'seba' is 'sa'. A ditch is a place where water is narrow.
Shallows
It refers to a place where water flows fast. It is narrow because it is pressed by the rapids. The lower part is omitted.
Source
It is the origin of water. Shore is the edge of water.
Spring
It is 'izuru mizu' (water that comes out). The 'ru' of 'izuru' and the 'tsu' of 'mizu' are omitted.
Abyss
The 'Chokushishō' says, 'fu' is 'fukaki' (deep). 'Chi' is the sound of water. One theory is that 'chi' is an empty character. My current thought is that 'chi' is interchangeable with 'tsu'. 'Tsu' omits the 'mi' of 'mizu'. It is deep water.
* 'Empty character' is Utsuoji. Reference: 'Eika Jiten (Expletive Empty character)' 'Iroha Onkun Den: Nihon Mitsuyō 5'
Bank
The side of the foot of a mountain, or the high side of a waterfront is called 'kishi'. 'Kishi' is 'kehashi' (steep). It refers to something steep. One theory is that it is 'koshi' (waist). It stands up like a waist. 'Ko' and 'ki' are interchangeable.
* "Sobadateri" means to stand tall (sobadatsu). It refers to mountains or similar objects that are angular and tower high.
Port (Minato)
It is a water gate (minato). It is where the body enters, the door of the water.
Wave (Nami)
It means "lining up" (narabi). "Hi" and "mi" are interchangeable. The middle is omitted. Waves are things that stand in a row.
Open Sea (Nada)
Senkaku said, "Nada" means "high waves" (namitakaki). My current assessment is that the open sea has high waves. It is a mistake to commonly write it with the character for "shoal" (nan). "Shoal" refers to rapids. One should consult a dictionary.
Ripples (Sazanami)
"Sasa" means "small." It refers to waves.
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 "Self-Introduction/Disclaimer" section. 📖