A late graph (Shuowen) . Has 心 164 ‘heart’, and 咸 (NJK graph based on a halberd: see e.g. 545) as phonetic with associated sense ‘shake’, to give ‘shaking heart’, and so ‘feeling, emotion’. KJ1970:215; YK1976:104; OT1968:379. Suggest taking 口 as ‘mouth’ 22.
Mnemonic: FEELING HEART IN THE MOUTH WHEN FACING A HALBERD
265
L4
漢
KAN
Han China, male
13 strokes
漢字 KANJI character
悪漢 AKKAN rogue
漢詩 KANSHI Chinese poetry
Ironically, one of the most etymologically obscure characters. Bronze . Has 氵 42 ‘water’, with right-hand side as phonetic (associated sense unclear). Originally referred to the Han River (modern Shaanxi Province), one of the most important tributaries of the Yangtze River; later taken as name for the Han dynasty by its founder Liu Bang, as that region was where he began building the dynasty. At an early period, non-Han ethnic groups in China referred to Han Chinese as 漢 子 ‘sons of Han’, and by extension the general sense ‘male’. KJ1970:223; OT1968:599; YK1976:104; SS1984:128. We suggest taking the right hand element as 夫 601 ‘man’, 口 22 ‘mouth’ and 艹 53 ‘grass/plant’, with a little geographical licence.
Mnemonic: MAN FROM MOUTH OF HAN RIVER IN GRASSY HAN CHINA
266
L4
館
KAN
large building, hall
16 strokes
会館 KAIKAN hall
旅館 RYOKAN inn
美術館 BIJUTSUKAN art gallery
Late graph (Shuowen) . Has 飠 163 ‘meal/eat’, and 官 465 (modern meaning ‘official’) as phonetic with associated sense ‘building to work in’, then ‘building’ in general or ‘house’ (Yamada). Shirakawa sees differently as originally a temporary building used by army on the move for ceremonial use, then ‘building’ in general sense. Katō takes the graph as ‘place to stay/eat’. KJ1970:335; YK1976:106; SS1984:131; KJ1985:669.
Mnemonic: OFFICIAL EATS IN HALL
267
L3
岸
GAN, kishi
bank, shore
8 strokes
海岸 KAIGAN coast
対岸 TAIGAN opposite bank
川岸 kawagishi riverbank
A late graph (Shuowen) . Has 山 26 ‘mountain’, and lower part as phonetic with associated sense ‘dwelling built high on rocks/high’ (Yamada), ‘mountain prominence’ (Ogawa), or ‘jagged cliff’ (Shirakawa). Later, extended usage for ‘high land close to water’, and ‘bank, shore’. YK1976:108; OT1968:302; SS1984:136. We suggest taking 干 840 in its modern meaning of ‘dry’, and 厂 as a bank.
Mnemonic: MOUNTAIN-LIKE BANK IS DRY
268
L4
起
KI, okiru/kosu/koru
arise, bring about
10 strokes
起源 KIGEN origin
早起き hayaoki early rising
起動機 KIDŌKI starter motor
A relatively late graph (Shuowen). Traditional form has 巳 (NJK ‘serpent’) on the right, reflecting the seal form. Has 走 179 ‘run’ (shows movement), and right-hand 巳 with associated sense ‘begin’ (Ogawa), or – by another analysis – 己 866 (‘twisting thread’; ‘self’) with associated sense ‘(person) bent over (when getting up)’ (Shirakawa) or ‘stop’ (stop running > stand) (Yamada). ‘Bring about’ is extended usage. First analysis above is probably the one to follow. KJ1970:232; YK1976:114; SS1984:145; OT1968:966.
Mnemonic: RUNNING IN A TWISTED WAY BRINGS ABOUT CONSEQUENCES
269
L3
期
KI, GO
period, expect
12 strokes
学期 GAKKI school term
期待 KITAI expectation
最期 SAIGO end, death
Bronze forms such as , typically consist of 其 as phonetic with associated sense ‘go round’, with determinative 日 66 ‘sun’, or occasionally 月 18 ‘moon’; seal script (Shuowen) onwards has ‘moon’. One cycle of the sun (one year) or the moon (month); by extended usage for ‘period’ in general. 其 is an NJK used to express ‘that’, but this is loan usage, originally pictograph of a winnowing basket, which may also relate to cyclic seasons. ‘Expect’ is an extended meaning perhaps related to regularity. MS1995:v1:640-41; KJ1970:238; OT1968:739.
SIX ROOFED WELLS ICE OVER IN THE COLD
