Encyclopedia of Shinto

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詳細表示 (Complete Article)

カテゴリー1： 7. Concepts and Doctrines
カテゴリー2： Basic Terms
Title
Toyoashiharanomizuhonokuni
Text
An alternative name for the country of Nihon (Japan). It is a short form of "Toyoashihara no chiaki no nagaihoaki no mizuho no kuni" (Kojiki) or "Toyoashihara no chiihoaki no mizuho no kuni" (Nihongi), both of which mean "the land of luxuriant reed plains with fair rice ears through fifteen hundred autumns." Here, expressions such as toyo (luxuriant) and chiihoaki (fifteen hundred autumns) are eulogistic. Originally, the phrase denoted a realm where reeds grew abundantly. Later, since the natural environment was suitable for rice cultivation as well, the word mizuho (fresh or beautiful ears) came to be associated with ears of rice. Over the years the phrase celebrated bumper crops of staple grains and so acquired an auspicious tone. Some linguistic studies have indicated that this phrase, along with the expression "the central land of reed plains" (Ashihara no nakatsukuni), was used during the epoch bridging the Descent of the Heavenly Grandchild (tenson kōrin) and the reign of the early monarch, Jinmu.

— Fukui Yoshihiko

Pronunciation in Japanese/用語音声

No movie/映像なし