本当は怖い漢字の本 – Scary Kanji Book

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Title: “The Real Scary Kanji Book”

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P/s: This material was collected with the kind cooperation of the Uno Japano community and contributions from member Маша Регионова.We deeply appreciate their support in gathering useful JLPT study resources.

Introduction to The Real Scary Kanji Book by Hiroshi Deguchi

📚 The Real Scary Kanji Book is an intriguing exploration into the hidden and often unsettling histories of the kanji characters used in the Japanese writing system. Curated and written by Hiroshi Deguchi, a renowned expert in Japanese linguistics, this book invites readers to uncover the dark, fascinating stories behind the kanji we encounter daily.

🖋️ While kanji may seem like simple symbols, they carry rich, layered meanings and histories. In this book, Deguchi reveals the eerie and sometimes shocking origins of many common kanji characters, showing how they embody far more than just their contemporary meanings. For example, the character “了” (ryou), often seen in contexts like completion, traces back to unsettling images—like a baby wrapped in cloth or a child whose limbs were severed.

🔍 The book examines kanji like “道” (dou, “way”), “化” (ka, “change”), and “央” (ou, “center”), characters that might appear harmless in everyday use but have much deeper, sometimes macabre, meanings tied to life, death, and transformation. Each kanji is explained in vivid detail, accompanied by illustrations that bring their unsettling histories to life.

📖 The Real Scary Kanji Book is more than just a linguistic exploration—it’s a journey into the cultural and historical depths of the Japanese language. Whether you’re a student of Japanese, a history enthusiast, or simply someone curious about the power and depth of language, this book will offer you a new, surprising perspective on the kanji characters that have shaped Japanese culture for centuries.

✨ By diving into the hidden stories and meanings behind kanji, this book encourages a deeper understanding of the language and its cultural significance. It’s a must-read for anyone eager to explore the mysteries embedded in the words we use every day.

了 (ryou)
🍼 One of the most chilling kanji explored in the book is “了” (ryou), which often means “to complete” or “finish.” However, its historical roots are much darker. Some interpretations trace it to the image of a baby wrapped in cloth, a symbol of death in ancient burial rites. Other explanations suggest that it once depicted a child whose limbs had been severed—an unsettling reminder of historical practices.
道 (dou)
🚶‍♂️ The kanji “道” (dou), meaning “way” or “path,” is commonly used in words like “道場” (dojo) or “道路” (road). However, its origins carry a much deeper meaning related to spiritual journeys and, in some interpretations, the path to death. It was originally linked to the concept of a “way” that was inescapable, a reminder of both life’s journey and the inevitability of death.
化 (ka)
🔄 The kanji “化” (ka), which means “change” or “transformation,” is often seen in words like “化学” (chemistry) and “文化” (culture). However, the deeper history of this character reveals its associations with the transformation of the soul and spirit. It was once used in contexts related to death, transformation after death, and the changing of one’s essence. The kanji’s connection to these deeper spiritual meanings gives it a more ominous tone than just simple change.
央 (ou)
🌍 “央” (ou), which means “center,” often appears in words like “中央” (chuuou, “center”) or “中央銀行” (chuuou ginkou, “central bank”). While it appears harmless, its historical background is linked to central places of power—often associated with political intrigue or even death, where central authority was seen as a position of both power and vulnerability.