Glossary of Japanese Terms
Bakufu | 幕府 | The Government of feudal period of Japan |
Banko |
万古 | Japanese earthenware produced at the turn of 19 and 20th centuries |
Bijinga |
美人画 | Picture of a beauty or a young kabuki actor |
Bizen | 備前 | Ancient province, consisting of parts of today’s Okayama, Ehime and Hyogo prefecture |
Biwa |
琵琶 | String instrument resembling a lute |
Bunraku |
文楽 | Japanese puppet theatre originating in 17th century |
Byobu |
屏風 | Decorative multi panel folding screen |
Cloisonné |
Enamel, a technique of metal decoration | |
Daishou |
大小 | Lit. long and short. A set of two swords, worn strictly by the samurai class |
Dohyou |
土俵 | The circle ring of sumou |
Kabuki |
歌舞伎 | Japanese dance and drama theatre dating back to early 17th century |
Kabuto |
兜 | Combat helmet of the samurai armour |
Kaburo / kamuro |
禿 | Young apprentice courtesan |
Kachou- ga |
花鳥画 | Images of flowers, birds, insects and small animals |
Kadou |
華道 | Way of Ikebana |
Kakejiku |
掛け軸 | Hanging wall scroll |
Kakiemon |
柿右衛門 | Japanese Porcelain produced in Arita region |
Kanzashi |
簪 | Traditional ornamental hairpin |
Kassen- e |
合戦絵 | Scene of war/ rebellion from Japanese history |
Kimono |
着物 | Traditional Japanese garment |
Kiseru |
煙管 | Traditional Japanese pipe |
Koto |
琴 | Traditional Japanese multi stringed instrument |
Kuge | 公家 | Japanese aristocratic class |
Kutani |
九谷 | Porcelain produced in Ishikawa Prefecture |
Fukei- ga |
風景画 | Landscape |
Fundoshi |
犢鼻褌 | Traditional Japanese underwear for adult men |
Furin |
風鈴 | Wind bells made of glass |
Furoshiki |
風呂敷 | Wrapping cloth used to carry or store things |
Fuzoku- ga |
風俗画 | Genre picture |
Geiko |
芸子 | Entertainer performing traditional Japanese dance and music in Kyoto |
Geisha |
芸者 | Entertainer who performs traditional Japanese dance and music in Tokyo |
Gendai hanga |
現代版画 | Contemporary Japanese print |
Geta |
下駄 | Traditional Japanese wooden sandals |
Gojuu-no-tou | 五重の塔 | Five stories pagoda |
Goza | 茣蓙 | A mat made of juncus effusus(rush) plant |
Hanga |
版画 | Japanese print |
Hanabi |
花火 | Fireworks |
Hanami |
花見 | Cherry blossoms viewing |
Hashira- e |
柱絵
|
Lit. pillar print. Long slender picture |
Hinamatsuri |
雛祭り | Dolls festival for Girl’s Day on 3rd March |
Hotoke |
仏 | Buddha |
Horagai | 螺貝 | Wind instrument made of conch shell |
Ikebana |
生花 | Japanese traditional flower arrangement |
Imari |
伊万里 | Porcelain produced in Saga prefecture |
Inro |
印籠 | Lit. seal box. Small box with compartments for small personal objects, mostly medicine |
Ishidara | いしだら | A stone lantern often set in the Japanese garden |
Izumo |
出雲 | East part of Shimane prefecture |
Jinja |
神社 | Shinto Shrine |
Jizou |
地藏 | Statue of a Buddhist saint, guardian of children |
Joururi |
浄瑠璃 | Chanting narrative with accompanying of shamisen in Bunraku theatre |
Ju-goya | 十五夜 | Full moon viewing on the 15th Aug of the traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar |
Ju-ni hitoe |
十二単 | 12 layered kimono of Heian period |
Ju-sanya | 十三夜 | The moon viewing on the 13th Sep of the traditional lunisolar calendar |
Jitte |
十手 | Weapon used by police officers in the Edo period |
Maiko |
舞妓 | Apprentice of Geiko in Kyoto |
Miko |
巫女 | Female dancers serving at a Shinto shine |
Mino |
美濃 | Ancient prefecture, part of today’s Gifu |
Musashi |
武蔵 | Ancient prefecture, consisting of parts of today’s Tokyo, Saitama and parts of Kanagawa prefecture |
Musha- e |
武者絵 | Image of a warrior |
Netsuke |
根付 | Pendant, counterweight for inro, holding it in place behind the sash |
Nimai tsuzuki |
二枚続き | Diptych |
Ninja |
忍者 | Undercover agents working for warlords |
Noh |
能 | Traditional Japanese mask theatre originating in 14th century |
Obake |
お化け
|
Japanese ghost |
Obi |
帯 | Broad belt for kimono |
Ougi- e |
扇絵 | Design of a folding fan |
Onnagata |
女形 | Kabuki actor specialising in female roles |
Owari |
尾張 | West parts of today’s Aichi prefecture |
Rekishi- e |
歴史絵 | Scene from Japanese history |
Ryu |
竜 | Dragon |
Sadou |
茶道 | Way of tea ceremony |
Sagami |
相模 | Part of today’s Kanagawa prefecture |
Sakura |
桜 | Cherry blossom tree, symbol of beauty and illusiveness of life |
Sanmai tsuzuki |
三枚続き | Triptych |
Satsuma no kuni |
薩摩の國 | West parts of today’s Kagoshima prefecture |
Satsuma |
薩摩 | Pottery produced in Satsuma region |
Sensu |
扇子 | Japanese folding fan |
Shakuhachi |
尺八 | A type of Japanese flute traditionally made of bamboo |
Shamisen |
三味線 | Traditional Japanese three string instrument |
Shibai- e |
芝居絵 | Scene of the Kabuki play |
Shichigosan | 七五三 | The ceremony of coming of age for seven, five and three years, celebrated on 15th Nov |
Shikishi- e |
色紙絵 | Lit. square shaped picture, name of a format |
Shin hanga |
新版画 | Modern print |
Shini- e |
死に絵 | Obituary portrait of a famous person |
Shinto |
神道 | Japanese ancient religion |
Shochikubai |
松竹梅 | Triad of bamboo, pine tree and plum tree, known as three friends of winter. Auspicious symbol in poetry and paintings common for Asian cultural region |
Shodou |
書道 | Way of calligraphy |
Shogatsu |
正月 | New Year’s day |
Sho- ga |
書画 | Calligraphy with an image |
Shogi |
将棋
|
Japanese chess |
Shogun |
将軍 | General, military director of Bakufu, equivalent of an admiral |
Shoji |
障子 | Wooden framed slid door with Japanese paper screen |
Shun- ga |
春画 | Erotic image |
Sumi- e |
墨絵 | Ink painting |
Sumida | 隅田 | Pottery produced at the turn of 19 and 20th centuries in Tokyo |
Sumo |
相撲 | Traditional Japanese wrestling |
Sumo- e |
相撲絵 | Portrait of a Sumo wrestler |
Surimono |
刷り物 | Seasonal calligraphy with an adequate image. Very limited edition, usually personal message from the author to his benefactors or friends |
Tanzaku- e |
短冊絵 | Long and slender shaped picture |
Tera |
寺 | Buddhist Temple |
Tenno |
天皇 | Emperor |
Tabi |
足袋 | Japanese socks worn with kimono |
Tanabata |
七夕 | The star festival marked by meeting Vega and Altair on the 7th of July |
Tango no Sekku | 端午の節句 | The Boys Festival on 5th May |
Tenugui | 手拭 | Japanese cotton towel, approximately 90cm x 35cm |
Torii |
鳥居 | A gate built at the shrine entrance signifying a sacred area |
Tsukimi |
月見 | Viewing of the moon |
Tsuba |
鐔 | Sword guard |
Uchiwa |
団扇 | Rounded paper fan on a bamboo frame |
Uchiwa- e |
団扇絵 | Design of a round fan |
Ukiyo-e |
浮世絵 | Lit. images of the floating world, traditional Japanese woodblock prints |
Urushi |
漆 | Japanese lacquer work |
Umibozu | 海坊主 | Ocean monster destroys ships |
Wagasa |
和傘 | Japanese umbrella made of paper on a bamboo frame |
Watashi-bune |
渡し船 | A ferry boat |
Waraji |
草鞋 | Traditional Japanese footwear made of straw rope |
Yakusha- e |
役者絵 | Portrait of a Kabuki actor |
Yamashiro | 山城 | Ancient Kyoto prefecture |
Yamato |
大和 | Nara prefecture, also, an ancient name of Japan |
Yukaku |
遊郭 | Red light district |
Yoshiwara |
吉原 | Pleasure quarter in Edo |
Zori |
草履 | Traditional Japanese footwear |