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葦原中国 (あしはらのなかつくに) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
Japan (archaic, mythological)
archaic Japanese mythology
Archaic name for Japan used in Japanese mythology, especially in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. Refers to the land of the living, as opposed to the heavenly realm or the underworld. Not used in modern Japanese except in historical or mythological contexts.
た
。
In the Kojiki, Ashihara no Nakatsukuni was considered the land to be ruled by the heavenly gods.
Written forms 葦原中国あしはらのなかつくに
Standard kanji spelling for this mythological place name.
葦あし 原はら の 中なか つ 国くに
Variant spelling with explicit の and つ, common in older texts.
Kanji 原 meadow, original, primitive Similar words 日本にほん Standard modern word for Japan. 葦原中国 is an archaic mythological name, not used in everyday language.
高天原たかまがはら The heavenly realm in Japanese mythology, contrasted with 葦原中国, the earthly realm.
Etymology From 葦原 (ashihara, 'reed plain') + の (possessive particle) + 中つ国 (nakatsukuni, 'middle land'). The name reflects the mythological view of Japan as a land of reeds situated between heaven and the underworld.
