Beastie monkey

February 4, 2016 TAKA 0 Comments

Beast Letters

2016 is a monkey year by Eastern Asian year custom.

Monkey is 猿 or 申.

Nikko Monkey Army’s show

The latter letter is a old letter of monkey, and mainly used in the traditional chronicle things in China and Japan.

So this year is written 申年 Saru Doshi. (年 means year.)

But today’s topic treats with 猿 type letters.

The left part of this letter 猿 is called Beast part.
Beast part is used for animal related character.
For example, other types of animals,

猫(neko) is cats.

猪(inoshishi) is horn.

狐(kitsune) is fox.

I think this part is inclueded especially in mammal.

Other examples are, 狼(Ookami) is wolf.

The right side part 良　means good or nice.

I dont know why.
狸(Tanuki) is racoon. Racoon is familiar animal in Japanese fables.
Although racoon is rare now, in old time living in local areas.
Plobably that is why right part is 里(Sato), this means village.

Other examples

狙う(Nera u).  Hunt something.

狂う(Kuru u)  Going mad.

These are verbs. the characters such as wild or savage, they have also beast part.

猟(ryou) is hunting. 猟銃(Ryo Juu) is hunting rifle.

地獄(zi goku) is hell.

地 means　ground or basement in this situation.

獄, this letter is probably 99% used this combination. It’s Very rare to use by just one letter.

猛獣(Mou Juu) is Savage,Beast.

When you walk around Japanese town,

You’re going to find the letters 猛犬注意(Mou ken Chuu i: Savage dog Watch out) on facade of house.

Those house have savage dogs. so visiting carefully.(more scary than watch dog..)
(By the way, watch dog is just written 番犬(ban ken), there is different word.)

Thank you for reading 😀