That toad character is rarely used alone anymore but you can see what it looks like in the image to the right. Though not see in this way today, most turtle-related characters hold the meaning of "a toad with a shell" in their ancient origin. That bottom half is actually an ancient character that means "toad". General notes: You may notice that the bottom half of this character is the same as some other turtle-related titles. It has not been in common use in Korea for at least a few hundred years. In Korean, this character can be pronounced (though most Koreans would have to look it up in a dictionary). 鼈 is not a good selection for a wall scroll if your audience is Chinese. That term has come to mean "bastard" in Chinese (a turtle hatches from an abandoned egg, and does not know who his mother or father is). Unfortunately, there is a word, "wang ba dan" which means the egg of this species of turtle. In China, this species is related to the "wang ba", a soft-shelled turtle sometimes known in English as a banjo turtle (due to its long neck, and general shape). A specific species, Trionyx Sinensis which is native to Asia. But rarely used as a single Kanji like this in Japanese.Ĭhinese: 鼈 means soft-shelled turtle. Japanese: 鼈 means "snapping turtle" or "mud turtle". 鼈 refers to different turtles in different languages. Variants of the same characters are used in China for the rank and title of a General of the People's Liberation Army (and the same term and characters have been used for the last 2200 years since the Qin Dynasty). Sometimes a Shogun was a general, other times he was the leader of a military government in Japan - but not a front line warrior like a Samurai. Or effectively, a commanding officer of a company of Samurai - to put it in modern military terms. In this context, the Shogun was a Samurai lord. In the case of the Samurai, the Shogun was a designated (by the emperor) leader of a gild of Samurai. Often westerners use the words, Samurai and Shogun, interchangeably, but that's really not technically correct. Some might even think of the TV mini-series with Richard Chamberlain. In the west, when someone mentions "Shogun" we may be filled with thoughts of gallant warriors. The title "Shogun" has held some slightly ambiguous meanings at times in Japanese history. It’s also about being part of a universe that is imperfectly beautiful, our connection to each other and the strength of humanity.Ĭarrying this symbol with you can help remind you that you already have everything you need to move towards your goals in life and that there is great beauty in all that is imperfect.Shogun in the simplest definition is a General but you could also use words such as commander, lord, overlord, highest ranking, or commanding officer. The imperfection of the Enso shows us that enlightenment is about embracing who we truly are and being satisfied rather than trying to create a character that is perfect. In Zen Buddhism, it is believed that a person fully exposes himself or herself when drawing an Enso. The Enso is also thought to symbolise our innermost and most authentic self. By balancing irregularity and asymmetry, one can create a composition that captures something truly unique and perfectly imperfect. There is a Japanese word that captures the denial of perfection Fukinsei. It’s the very imperfections that make the Enso so beautiful. Its beauty comes from the moment it was created and the imperfection that is inherent at that moment. Since the circle is drawn with only one stroke, there is no possibility to modify it. Drawing an Enso is part of Buddhist meditation practise that focuses on allowing the body to create by quieting the mind, hence also symbolising a moment when the body and spirit are free from the mind to simply create. Traditionally, the circle is drawn with only one brushstroke and is one of the most common subjects in Japanese calligraphy. The circle symbolises many things: strength, the circle of life, connection, letting go of expectations and the beauty in imperfection.ĭerived from Zen Buddhism, the Enso (Zen Circle) simply means a circle or circle of togetherness. In this post, we want to introduce you to the Enso (Zen Circle) and focus on the deeper meaning behind this sacred Buddhist symbol.
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