[Etymology] Nihon Shakumei (39) Miscellaneous Utensils (Vessels, Souvenirs, Sake Cups, Fans, Cutting Boards, Koto, etc.)
|Vessel (Utsuhamono)
It is 'utsuhomono'. 'Ho' and 'ha' are interchangeable. It is something that is hollow inside. 'Utsuho' means the inside is empty and contains nothing.
* 'Utsuho' means |hollow (utsuho). It means the inside is |empty (kara).
|Treasure (Takara)
It is 'chikara' (power). When one has much gold, silver, and grain, it fulfills ten thousand uses and becomes a person's power. Therefore, it is called financial power (zairyoku).
|Chest (Hitsu)
It is 'itsu'. It is where things are put in and taken out. 'I' and 'hi' are interchangeable.
|Coffin (Hitsuki)
'Hitsu' is 'hito' (person). 'To' and 'tsu' are interchangeable. It is a 'wooden container for a deceased person.' In 'Wamyō Ruijushō', it is read as 'hitoki'.
Vehicle (Kuruma)
'Kuru' has the meaning of 'to rotate'. It is like saying 'to spin thread'. 'Ma' has the meaning of 'to revolve'.
* 'Rotating' means to turn. * Reference: '
Grammar Theory and Japanese Linguistics' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Chopsticks (Hashi)
'Hashi' is a term borrowed from a bird's 'beak' (kuchihashi).
|Souvenir (Miyage)
It is a '|vessel (ke)' brought from the capital. 'Ke' is a container for holding food and the like. It is like saying 'miyako no tsuto' (gift from the capital). It is also called 'iewetsuto'. It means 'a gift brought from home'. It is also 'a gift brought back home'.
|Gift/Bundle (Tsuto)
'Tsu' means 'to wrap'. 'To' and 'tsuto' are interchangeable. The 'mu' is omitted. It is also called 'aramaki'. It is 'waramaki' (straw wrapping).
Ladle
It is a 'hisago' (gourd). 'Ko' and 'ku' are interchangeable. In ancient times, they used the long, thin 'narihisago' to scoop water. Even now, the common people do this. There are gourds where the part that scoops water is large and the part held in the hand is thin. It is like a 'hisaku' (ladle) made on purpose.
* 'Narihisago' is a 'nari' (growing) 'hisago' (gourd). It refers to a calabash.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 46' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Sake Cup
'Saka' is 'sake' (rice wine). 'Tsuki' is a vessel for holding food and drink. It is a 'tsuki' (vessel). It is a 'tsuki for holding sake'.
Earthenware
'Kawara' is 'kawara' (roof tile). It refers to something baked from clay. 'Ke' is 'ke' (vessel). A vessel for holding food and drink is called a 'ke'.
Bellows
It is a 'fukigawa' (blowing skin). It is a tool for introducing air, blowing it out through a narrow hole, and starting a fire. It is made of leather.
Rope
It is 'naoki' (straight). A rope is a straight thing. When a craftsman planes wood, they pull an ink line to make it straight.
* 'Sugunaru' means straight.
Round Fan
'Uchi' is 'utsu' (to strike). 'Wa' is 'wa' (ring). It means round. It is a 'wa' (ring) that strikes to produce wind.
* 'Round Fan' is a 'uchiwa' (fan).
Pouch
'Fukuro' (pouch) is 'fukureru' (to swell). When you put things inside, it swells. 'Ru' and 'ro' are interchangeable.
* 'Fukureru' means to swell.
Hatchet
It is a 'nagigatana' (long sword). It is also written as 'curved sword'.
Cup (Tsuki)
It is an earthenware vessel. 'To' and 'tsu' are interchangeable. This uses the sound to create a Japanese word. There are other examples of this type.
Mirror (Kagami)
It is to 'look and consider' one's own face.
Reed (Osa)
It is to 'insert ramie'. It also means to 'insert many'.
Cutting Board (Manaita)
'Mana' is the Sanskrit word for 'fish'. It is a 'board for cutting fish'.
Masumi mirror
It is a 'clear mirror'. It is truly clear and bright. 'Masukagami' is an abbreviation of 'masumi no kagami'.
Rope (Tsuna)
'Tsuna' comes from 'tsunagu' (to connect).
Ball (Mari)
It is 'maru' (round). Its shape is round. 'Ro' and 'ri' are interchangeable.
Needle (Hari)
It is 'hori'. 'Ha' and 'ho' are interchangeable. It is to 'pierce' things. It is also said that 'ha' means 'thin'. 'Ho' and 'ha' are interchangeable. The rest is omitted. 'Ri' means 'togari' (sharp point). The beginning is omitted. It means 'thin and sharp'.
Offering Wand (Mitegura)
'Mi' is a word of respect. 'Te' is 'hand'. 'Kura' is 'seat'. The offering held in my hand is the 'seat' where the deity dwells.
* "Tautobu kotoba" is a word that means to revere.
Tatami (Mat)
It should mean "to fold and stack." In the second volume of the Nihon Shoki's Age of the Gods, it says, "Spread out the eight-fold tatami." It is an object that has existed since ancient times.
* "Spread out the eight-fold tatami" means to spread out eight-fold mats.
Kazashi (Hair ornament)
It means "to insert into the hair."
Kanzashi (Hairpin)
It is "kami-sashi" (hair-insert).
Mismaru (Jeweled necklace)
"Mi" is a word of reverence. "Su" is interchangeable with "tsu." It means "to string together." It refers to stringing beads together, and its shape is round.
Koto (Zither)
It is "koe-ito" (voice-string). The middle is omitted. It is "a string with a voice." For this reason, the "biwa" (lute) is called as such, the "so" (zither) is called as such, and the "kin" (zither) is called as such. What is played in the world is the "so" koto. The "kin" is rare. The short "wagon" is called "yamato-goto."
* "Koe" is voice.
Kotoji (Bridge of a koto)
It is "koto no jiu." "Ji" is "jiu" (bridge). The "u" is omitted. In the "biwa," it is called "jiu." In the "koto," it is called "kotoji." In the "wagon," it is called "tsuku."
* The reading "kotoji" for "bridge" refers to the object placed on the body of a wagon or so to support the strings and adjust the pitch. Kotoji (bridge), kotoji (bridge).
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 and misreadings. For details, please read the "Introduction/Disclaimer." 📖