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Recently, I visited Ootori Taisha, a shrine in Sakai, Osaka.
Inside the shrine grounds, there is a huge camphor tree.
The base of the tree rises up in a big mound, so it is called "Neagari no Okusu" (根上がりの大楠), which means "the great camphor tree with rising roots."
Around its roots, there were many golden tags shaped like old Japanese gold coins (koban). Each one had someone's wish written on it.
Here is a fun piece of Japanese wordplay.
The sound "ne" (ね) has two meanings:
・根 (ne) = root
・値 (ne) = price, value
The tree's roots (根) are rising up, so people say its "value" (値) rises too.
It is also said to raise your fortune (うんきが あがる), and for a long time it has been treasured as a sacred tree for business prosperity and good luck with money.
The same sound with different meanings makes it a delightful Japanese word game, doesn't it?
■ Today's words
・ごしんぼく (go-shinboku) = sacred tree
・ねあがり (neagari) = roots rising above the ground
・うんき (unki) = fortune, luck
When I visit a shrine, I somehow feel refreshed. In the quiet air, my heart feels a little lighter.
In my lessons, you can enjoy learning about Japanese culture and wordplay like this.
Why don't we study Japanese together? ??
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