I thought I would get this forum area started by sharing something that my Japanese friend told me. The character 人 is sometimes taken as a pictograph of a man walking where you're looking side on. The bottom of both strokes representing the legs.

However, the accepted theory is that only one of the strokes represents the legs in any way and the other actually represents the arms. Think of a labourer carrying something heavy on his back and stooping with his arms hanging down. You can certainly see this image more clearly with the primitive form that appears on the left handside. However with the primitive, I would assume that the first stroke represents the back. I guess these things are always open to debate.

What a ridiculous notion. Everyone knows man came from the Vagina. Though, because we live in a patriarchal society, that V was turned upside down into a phallic symbol.

I read something one time that said it was like...2 people leaning on each other in a state of interdependence -- like marriage. So you don't become a full "person" until you find your mate. Kind of 1+1 != 2, but 1+1 = 1 kind of thing.

It wasn't trying to be an actual history for it, but a cute little story

btw: bodhisamaya -- a reply-less thread from 2006? What?

人 is a side-view of a person leaning over holding their arms out front in a submissive position.

In the most ancient forms of this character you can clearly see the human shape.

As seen here - http://bbs.jinruisi.net/blog/kanji1.gif

or here - http://ameblo.jp/takahashi-masami/theme-...37708.html

Asriel Wrote:btw: bodhisamaya -- a reply-less thread from 2006? What?

It seems to have been the first post on this forum, yet never got a response.

biggest thread necro of all time.

bodhisamaya Wrote:What a ridiculous notion. Everyone knows man came from the Vagina. Though, because we live in a patriarchal society, that V was turned upside down into a phallic symbol.

did you just finish reading the da vinci code?

ur mom read the davinci code

bodhisamaya Wrote:It seems to have been the first post on this forum, yet never got a response.

And it finally did, just to talk about vagina. Sounds like a noble cause to me.

I'm part of the "Every Post Deserves a Response" fan club and we formally commend Bodhi for his community service action.

That made me laugh.

My font has the 人 that's more like a Y, though!